■This paper methodically presents Korea's strategy in addressing the protection of workers' safety and health in a comprehensive and historical manner.
-This paper aims to elucidate the evolution of the legal framework concerning occupational safety and health by concentrating on the connections between the current situation, its interpretation, and practical application. It seeks to uncover the dynamics of these changes through the interactions among various stakeholders, including civil society, labor unions, the government, the National Assembly, and others.
-In this context, the history of occupational safety and health in Korea can be categorized into three distinct periods, each encompassing two phases.
■The first period (1953-1987): This era marks the gradual establishment of a foundational framework for the safety and health at work, extending over an extensive period.
-This period is segmented into two phases: the initial phase (1953-1963) and the latter phase (1964-1987), distinguished by the implementation of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act in 1964.
-During the first half, there was no established legal framework for safety and health at work, and the concept of industrial accidents was not yet recognized.
-In the second half, the enactment of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (1964) and the Industry Act (1981) led to the establishment of administrative organizations and the development of policies in accordance with these laws.
■The second period (1988-2006): This phase saw refinement of the safety and health at work system, characterized by developments and adjustments in response to political and social changes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and a relaxation of regulations during the economic crisis in the late 1990s.
-The period is split into two halves: the first half (1988-1996) and the second half (1997-2006), marked by the economic crisis in 1997.
-In the first half, significant incidents and critiques stemming from the late 1980s influenced comprehensive revisions of the two main laws governing safety and health at work: the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
-The second half witnessed not only the relaxation of occupational safety and health regulations in the name of abolishing regulations on business activities to survive the recession but also the emergence of organized occupational safety and health movement led by labor unions.
■The third period (2007-2021): This stage marks the expansion of labor safety and health as a critical social and political issue, particularly following major disasters, and reflects a shift in the perception of occupational safety and health since the mid-2000s, influenced by diverse employment relationships.
-This period is categorized into two phases: the initial half (2007-2013) and the latter half (2014-2021), demarcated by the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014.
-In the first half, amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act were notably influenced by changes in employment relationships that emerged since the 1990s.
-The second half witnessed significant legislative developments, as the labor safety and health agenda began to gain traction not only in labor sectors but also in civil society, particularly after the Sewol ferry disaster.
■In Korea, the evolution of labor safety and health has shown mid- and long-term trends where the movement, initially centered around healthcare professionals and victims, evolved into a broader labor movement spearheaded by labor unions. Labor issues have increasingly become a social and political concern, with growing awareness of labor insecurity and the risk of social disasters since the 2000s.
-The potential for the late 2010s' developments to initiate a new phase hinges on how deeply the labor safety and health agenda is integrated into labor fields and the seriousness with which it is approached in the political decision-making process.
-The likely direction for this new phase could be characterized as a transition from an emphasis on ‘compensation and punishment’ to a focus on ‘rehabilitation and prevention’.
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