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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Lee Joonhyun] SEOUL, South Korea — April 21, 2026 — The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) officially designated HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (formerly HJ Shipyard) as the "2026 Worst Killer Corporation" during a ceremony held today at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The announcement comes in response to a series of fatal industrial accidents that claimed the lives of eight workers last year.
The annual event, co-hosted by the KCTU, Solidarity for Worker's Health, Every Day Labor News, and the Serious Disaster Experts Network, aims to hold corporations accountable for workplace fatalities and demand stricter enforcement of safety regulations.
According to the KCTU, the most devastating incident occurred on November 6 last year at the Ulsan Thermal Power Plant, where HJ Shipbuilding & Construction was the primary contractor. A 60-meter boiler tower collapsed during a demolition blast, burying and killing seven workers. Additionally, a subcontractor employee fell to his death at an opera house construction site in Busan, bringing the company's total death toll to eight. Hyundai Engineering followed as the second-ranked firm on this year’s list.
SPC and Coupang Voted Worst by the Public
In a separate online poll, citizens voted SPC and Coupang as the "Worst Killer Corporations." Out of 8,856 total votes, SPC received 4,200 (47.4%) and Coupang received 3,763 (42.5%), together accounting for nearly 90% of the public sentiment. Organizers designated them as co-winners due to the narrow margin.
“Worst Ruling Award” Criticizes Judicial Lenience
The organizers also presented the "Worst Ruling Award" to the Uijeongbu District Court. The award targets the court's recent acquittal of Sampyo Group Chairman Chung Do-won in connection with the 2022 Yangju quarry collapse, which killed three workers. This case was highly publicized as the first incident reported after the implementation of the Serious Disaster Punishment Act.
A Growing Call for Corporate Accountability
In a joint statement, the organizers emphasized that despite years of highlighting industrial fatalities, workers continue to die on the job. "We must impose severe punishments on 'killer corporations' to ensure the safety of our workforce," the statement read.
Data released by the groups shows that 605 workers died in 573 investigated industrial accidents last year. Notably, subcontracted workers accounted for 46.6% (282 deaths) of the fatalities, while foreign workers made up 11.7% (71 deaths), highlighting the disproportionate risks faced by vulnerable labor groups.
Alphabiz 이준현 기자(wtcloud83@alphabiz.co.kr)
