South Korean construction companies Posco E&C, LT Sambo, and Kyong Dong Engineering were raided for suspected involvement in the electrocution of a Myanmar worker.
In a tragic incident, a Myanmar worker was electrocuted on August 4, 2025, while inspecting a water pump installed in an underground water hole at POSCO E&C's Gwangmyeong-Seoul Expressway construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi. The worker, initially taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest, regained consciousness eight days later in intensive care. His family is expected to arrive in Korea soon to be with him.
Following the accident, authorities, including the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, launched an investigation. On August 11 and 12, more than 70 officials raided POSCO E&C's headquarters and the offices of subcontractors LT Sambo and Kyong Dong Engineering. The raids aimed to seize documents and electronic data related to the installation, maintenance, and safety management of the water pump involved in the accident, as well as overall site safety and hazard prevention plans.
This investigation takes on particular significance as President Lee Jae Myung has vowed strict measures against fatal industrial accidents. He has even called for reviewing the possibility of revoking POSCO E&C's construction license due to repeated fatal workplace incidents at the company's sites. This electrocution event follows a pattern of safety issues at POSCO E&C construction sites, where multiple fatal accidents have occurred over the past few years.
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As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the safety protocols and management at the highway construction site, with officials working to determine the cause and accountability for the accident amid heightened national scrutiny of POSCO E&C's workplace safety standards.
- The health and wellness of workers in the industry, particularly those in the construction business, is under scrutiny following the electrocution incident at POSCO E&C's Gwangmyeong-Seoul Expressway construction site.
- The industry, including finance and general news outlets, is monitoring the outcomes of the investigation into the accident, with a focus on the safety management practices of POSCO E&C and its subcontractors.
- Crime and justice sectors are involved in the ongoing investigation, with authorities looking into potential violations in the installation, maintenance, and safety management of water pumps, as well as overall site safety and hazard prevention plans.
- President Lee Jae Myung's stance on workplace safety has further fueled the scrutiny, with calls for stricter measures against industrial accidents and even revision of POSCO E&C's construction license due to repeated fatal incidents.
- The health and wellness industry, in light of this incident, is experiencing heightened interest, as officials work to implement measures that ensure worker safety and prevent similar accidents in the future.
