Incheon Court rules tugboat worker's death is occupational accident

The Incheon District Court has ruled that the death of a tugboat crew member who fell into the sea while intoxicated constitutes an occupational accident. The court ordered the Korea Tugboat Association to pay approximately 133 million won in survivor compensation and funeral expenses to the deceased's family.

The incident occurred in October 2022 when the crew member, who had been working for ten consecutive days, fell into the water while attempting to board a moored vessel to prepare for a scheduled 11:00 PM towing operation. Although an autopsy revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.22%, the court emphasized the unique nature of maritime labor.

Judge Shim Hyun-geun stated that for seafarers, activities such as boarding, disembarking, and preparing for work are inherently linked to their duties. The court noted that since the crew member was returning to the ship to fulfill a scheduled work obligation and was accompanied by the captain, the actions did not fall outside the scope of permitted professional conduct.