Worker dies at construction site near World Cup Bridge

The World Cup Bridge in Mapo District, western Seoul [YONHAP]

A 54-year-old worker died after drowning at a construction site near the World Cup Bridge on Monday.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, two laborers involved in the building of a temporary bridge at the southern end of the World Cup Bridge in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, drowned around 9:10 a.m, Monday, as a pontoon on which they were standing capsized.

One worker was unhurt. Another was found in cardiac arrest and later died after being transported to the hospital.

Samsung C&T is the general contractor on the project, and it could be charged under the Serious Accident Punishment Act. The labor ministry is looking into whether the company violated the law.

Under the act, owners of companies, managers and the corporation itself can be charged if they fail to properly implement safety practices and procedures and a casualty resulted from their negligence. The act applies to businesses with 50 or more employees. Those found to have violated the act can be jailed for a year or more or fined up to 1 billion won ($700,000).

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]