On July 16, DR & AJU and the Korea Industrial Health Association co-hosted a webinar titled “Key Issues and Challenges in Serious Accidents Faced by Local Governments.” The event offered a timely opportunity to review how local governments and public institutions have responded to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA) as it enters its third year of enforcement. It also offered in-depth analysis of key court rulings and policy trends, aiming to develop practical response strategies for compliance and risk mitigation.

The webinar was moderated by Mr. Dhong Joo KIM, Partner at DR & AJU and Director of External Relations for the Serious Accidents Practice Group. Panelists included Mr. Young Kyu KIM, Divisional Head of the Serious Accidents Advisory Group at DR & AJU; Mr. In Ho HWANG, Head of the Health and Safety Consulting Department at the Korea Industrial Health Association; and Mr. Dae Wook HEO, Advisor at DR & AJU and Ph.D. in Disaster Prevention and Safety Engineering. The discussion focused on the challenges faced by local governments, such as legal ambiguities, the burden of investigations and trials, and systemic shortcomings in the regulatory framework. The panelists explored response strategies tailored to public institutions, particularly in light of the expanded responsibilities imposed on employers and local governments under the policy direction of the newly elected administration. Special attention was given to practical measures that reduce the legal liability of local governments while enhancing on-site worker safety.

DR & AJU’s Serious Accident Advisory Group provides systematic inspection services and tailored legal solutions to help companies comply effectively with the SAPA. The Group has developed and operated the SAPA Compliance Certificate (SCC) Program, which has been adopted by more than 200 domestic companies. It has also provided consulting on building SAPA response systems for over half of Korea’s ten major public enterprises and successfully represented local governments and public organizations in SAPA-related litigation.