Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education to compensate school cafeteria workers for lung cancer

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is moving to proactively provide 10 million won per person to school cafeteria workers who have been officially recognized with industrial accident compensation for lung cancer. This measure aims to bypass lengthy civil litigation and support rapid medical treatment and recovery for affected staff.

The decision follows a recent court ruling in which the Seoul Central District Court held several regional education offices liable for damages. The court found that inadequate ventilation systems and insufficient preventive safety measures contributed to the development of lung cancer among workers exposed to cooking byproducts.

In addition to financial compensation, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans to strengthen safety management in school kitchens. Key initiatives include upgrading ventilation facilities, modernizing cooking environments to reduce cooking fumes, enhancing industrial safety training, and providing regular health screenings for workers.