Hyundai Steel is facing mounting criticism over persistent industrial accidents and alleged neglect of its legal obligations toward subcontracted workers. Despite the enactment of South Korea’s Serious Accident Punishment Act in 2022, six workers have died at Hyundai Steel since its implementation — a trend the union describes as a “predicted tragedy.”

Compounding these concerns, injury data released by the National Assembly reveals that subcontracted workers at the company’s Dangjin plant have suffered accident rates up to ten times higher than those of directly employed staff over a six-year period.

Although the Central Labour Relations Commission and a Seoul court have affirmed Hyundai Steel’s status as a de facto employer with responsibilities for safety and working conditions, the company has continued to reject collective bargaining requests. Unions have called on the Ministry of Employment and Labour to intervene and halt restructuring plans that they argue are deepening safety risks on site.

In October 2025, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Hyundai Steel to respond to the reporting. The company did not respond.