Jipyong’s Occupational Safety & Serious Accidents Team, first launched in February 2021, was expanded and reorganized into the Serious Accidents Response Center in June 2022 after Mr. Jung Sik PARK and Mr. Sang Ho YOON, veteran prosecutors with extensive experience in cases related to industrial safety, joined the team.
Jipyong’s Serious Accidents Response Center is composed of nearly 30 professionals who have vast experience in advising on the prevention of serious accidents and occupational safety and representing clients in cases related to serious accidents and occupational safety.The Center is directly led by Mr. Ji Hyung KIM, a former Supreme Court Justice; Mr. Jung Sik PARK, a former chief prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office; and Mr. Young Tae YANG, the managing partner of Jipyong.
It should be noted that Mr. Ji Hyung KIM served as the chairperson of the Samsung Electronics Mediation Committee for Solution toWork-Related Diseases at its Semiconductor Factory; the Fact-Finding Committee on the Guui Station Accident; the Special Labor Safety Investigation Committee for Coal-Fired Power Plants for Truth into Yong Gyun KIM’s Death and Prevention of Recurrence; and the Hyundai Steel Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee. He has been recognized as an authoritative figure in Korea for the investigation into the cause of safety and health accidents, and the prevention and response measures for the accidents.
Mr. Jung Sik PARK is a specialist who, during his tenure as a prosecutor, mainly handled and conducted cases requiring special investigations and the investigation of special cases, including financial, economic, and corruption cases. With respect to industrial accidents, he investigated the gas explosion incident at the Daegu subway construction area during his service at the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office. He investigated a factory explosion and published an occupational safety investigation manual when serving as the Chief Prosecutor at the Ulsan District Prosecutors’ Office, all of which show that the depth and breadth of his experiences in on-site investigations and theories in serious accidents. For his outstanding work, he was awarded an official commendation by the Minister of Justice in addition to the Yellow Stripes Order of Service Merit.
Other prominent members of the Center are Mr. Ja Sung OH, a former Chief Prosecutor at the Public Security Department; Mr. Sang Ho YOON, a former chief prosecutor at the Public Security Department; Mr. Chang Young KWON, a former legal advisor at the Ministry of Employment and Labor and a former presiding judge; Mr. Jeong Hoon LEE, a former presiding judge; and Mr. Tae Hee KIM, a former team leader in Compliance Management and Administration at Hyundai E&C In addition, the participation and performance of more junior attorneys, who have graduated from top Korean law schools are integral members of the Center. These include Mr. Chang Wook MIN, Head of the Compliance Group at Jipyong’s ESG Center; Mr. Young Hwan KWON and Mr. Dong Hyun KIM, who have, together, with experts from the police agency, namely, Mr. Chi Heon KIM (a former attorney at the Ministry of Employment and Labor and a former inspector at the Korean National Police Agency) and Mr. Sun Kuk KIM (a graduate of the Korean National Police University); and Mr. Kye Kwan WI (a graduate of the Korean National Police University) collectively reinforced the deep capabilities of the Center.
Mr. Sang Ho YOON co-authored investigation manuals, including the “Investigation Practices for Industrial Safety (Ulsan District Prosecutors’ Office)” during his tenure as a chief prosecutor, and authored “Understanding and Responding to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (co-author, Pakyoungsa)” while working as an attorney. As such, he has unrivaled experience in investigations and theories in the fields of serious accidents, industrial safety, and labor.
Mr. Chang Young KWON is one of various professionals who led discussions on legal principles related to Korea’s domestic occupational safety and health by participating in the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act as a chairperson of the Serious Disaster Advisory Committee at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and who is also a legal advisor at the Ministry of Employment and Labor,, he authored the “Annotation for Labor Standards Act (Pakyoungsa)”.
He was also honored with commendation awards from the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General, and also received an order of service merit commendation (yellow stripes) from the Korean government for his excellent public service.
The members of the Center have demonstrated a breadth and depth of their capabilities in the interpretation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act through various publications and dissertations, including the co-authored “Online Commentary on the Occupational Safety and Health Act” (LAWnB), “Criminal Liability Arising from Serious Accidents that You Should Know” (JoongAng Economy), “Employer’s Liability and Personal Liability for Industrial Accidents” (Labor Law Research Society, Seoul National University), etc.
Jipyong’s Serious Accidents Response Center provides comprehensive legal services, from consulting services on the prevention of serious accidents, to services on response measures, and responses to investigations and litigations in the aftermath of serious accidents.
[Scope of Services]
The Serious Accidents Punishment Act requires executives of a company to establish a safety and health management system covering the organization (i.e., workforce), budget, and process (management measures). Jipyong’s Serious Accidents Response Center offers specific and professional legal advice specially tailored to the needs and requirements of each company to help build a compliance system for preventing serious accidents.
In addition, the Center provides exceptional legal services as per the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to aid executives involved in criminal cases to prove that they have made sufficient efforts to fulfill their obligations without any intention of violating the law.
Key Practice Areas Close
At the phase of accident prevention: Monitoring the degree of establishment of the safety and health management system and maintaining the compliance system
- Responding to on-site investigations at the accident site conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Responding to investigation procedures by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the police, and the prosecution against company executives, etc., upon the occurrence of a serious accident
- Communicating with relevant stakeholders, such as victims or their families, and representing them in settlement procedures
- Responding to administrative proceedings, such as cancellation of the order for suspension of business operations
- Responding to court proceedings against executives, etc.
- Representing companies in civil litigation proceedings, including claims for compensatory damages against the company
At the phase of accident response: Taking response measures to minimize losses suffered by a company upon the occurrence of a serious accident
- Responding to on-site investigations at the accident site conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Responding to investigation procedures against the executives, etc., upon the occurrence of the serious accident, conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the police, and the prosecution
- Communicating with relevant stakeholders, such as victims or their families, and representing the company in settlement procedures
- Responding to administrative proceedings, such as cancellation of the order for suspension of business operations
- Responding to court proceedings against the executives, etc.
- Representing the company in civil cases, including claims for compensatory damages against the company
