Memorial for Worker Kim Choong-hyun's First Death Anniversary; Calls for Direct Employment of Contract Workers

On the first anniversary of the death of worker Kim Choong-hyun, who passed away in an accident at the Taean Thermal Power Plant last year, labor groups held a memorial event demanding direct employment for contract workers. Participants called for an end to the outsourcing of dangerous work and the achievement of direct employment, voicing their demands for improved unstable employment conditions and the creation of a safer workplace.

The committee for the death accident of contract worker Kim Choong-hyun held the 1st anniversary memorial event in front of Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on May 30th. Some participants marched to the Blue House and delivered a document urging the government to fulfill the agreements made by the consultative body.

Previously, the 'Power Industry Employment and Safety Consultative Body,' formed to prevent recurrence of such accidents, had agreed in February to directly employ all subcontracted workers for the routine maintenance of power generation facilities by KEPCO KPS. Ahead of the May 31st deadline for the completion of direct employment, the committee pointed out that the government has failed to implement these agreed-upon measures.

Worker Kim Choong-hyun died on June 2nd last year after becoming caught in machinery while processing a damaged equipment part in the mechanical workshop at the Taean Thermal Power Plant. He was employed by Korea Power O&M, a second-tier subcontractor of KEPCO KPS, which is a subcontractor of Korea Western Power.