South Korean construction falls cause over half of site fatalities

Data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reveals that falls accounted for 52.6% of all construction site fatalities in South Korea between 2021 and June 2025. Out of 1,220 total deaths during this period, 642 were caused by falls.

Major construction firms were also implicated. Among the top 10 largest construction companies, 36 of the 120 recorded deaths (30%) were due to falls. Hyundai E&C and Lotte Engineering & Construction reported the highest number of fall-related fatalities with 6 deaths each, followed by Hyundai Engineering and POSCO E&C with 5 deaths each.

Investigations highlighted recurring issues at specific sites, such as a Hyundai E&C highway project where fall fatalities occurred in both 2022 and 2023. Additionally, safety inspections found structural deficiencies, including a lack of proper walkways, forcing workers to use cable openings for movement. Representative Hwang Hee emphasized that instead of merely demanding worker caution, companies must first secure basic safety infrastructure like railings and designated walkways.