“Hyundai Steel under fire over 10-fold higher injury rates among subcontracted workers”, 16 October 2025

Subcontracted workers at Hyundai Steel, one of South Korea’s leading steel manufacturers, are experiencing significantly higher rates of industrial accidents than directly employed workers — in some cases up to ten times higher.

On 16 October, Lee Yong-woo, a Democratic Party lawmaker and member of the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labour Committee, released six years’ worth of workplace injury data (2020–August 2025) comparing accident rates at Hyundai Steel’s Dangjin plant between 18 subcontractor firms and directly employed workers.

The data showed that in every one of the six years, the injury rates among subcontracted workers consistently exceeded those of directly employed staff. (…) In 2023, subcontractor Dongsung Engineering recorded a rate of 7.29% — nearly ten times the direct employment rate.

In response, Hyundai Steel subcontracted workers demanded collective bargaining to improve workplace safety. (…) However, after the company failed to respond, the union filed a complaint with the South Chungcheong Regional Labour Relations Commission, citing unfair labour practices under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act (TULRAA).

When the commission dismissed the case, the union appealed to the Central Labour Relations Commission (CLRC), which in March 2022 recognised Hyundai Steel as an employer under the Trade Union Act — effectively affirming the company’s responsibility for subcontractor workers in matters of health and safety.

Hyundai Steel then filed an administrative lawsuit seeking to overturn the CLRC decision. But on 25 July 2025, the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed the case. Judge Choi Soo-jin of the 3rd Administrative Division ruled that Hyundai Steel held decision-making authority over subcontracted workers’ assignments and deployment, affirming its status as a “de facto employer” with obligations under occupational safety law.

Following the verdict, subcontracted workers once again called for collective bargaining to address safety, wages, and working conditions — but Hyundai Steel has yet to respond.