Serious accident prevention response center

“Responses and feedback are immediate, and they really see things from the client's perspective”

- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

Overview Key Services Practices Representative Cases Key Contacts Related Content News & Insights LinkedIn

Overview

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC’s Serious Accident Prevention & Response Center was the first among large law firms to establish and operate a dedicated Occupational Safety Task Force (TFT), through which it has accumulated exceptional experience and expertise. In 2021, in response to the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA), the Firm expanded and reorganized its structure and personnel to provide fully integrated, one-stop legal services. These services include establishing safety and health management systems, on-site response to serious accidents, representation during investigations, trial defense, response to special inspections by Regional Offices of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and handling administrative sanctions.

Under the overall coordination of its Comprehensive Situation Room, the Center dispatches on-site response teams immediately upon the occurrence of a serious accident to carry out critical initial response measures. It also forms dedicated, multidisciplinary teams composed of experts and former officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, police, prosecution, judiciary, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Environment, National Assembly, and media, ensuring close inter-agency coordination and tailored solutions across all relevant areas.

Key Services

Advisory on Serious Accident and Industrial Safety Compliance

Advised on the establishment and implementation of safety and health management systems under SAPA

Advised on strengthening regulations, frameworks, and compliance systems under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

Conducted mock investigations based on simulated accident scenarios to assess safety and health management systems and recommend improvements

Response to Serious Accidents and Industrial Safety Accidents

Dispatched on-site response teams immediately and handled initial accident investigations

Represented clients in investigations by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, police, and prosecution

Responded to search and seizure procedures and participated in forensic investigations

Handled arrest warrant proceedings

Advised on lifting of suspension/Stop-Work orders

Assisted in settlement negotiations and compensation matters with victims’ bereaved families

Responded to special supervision and regulatory inspections

Managed media response and administrative sanctions imposed by government authorities

Provided full representation in criminal and civil trial proceedings

Practice Areas

Representative Cases

Fire at an Outlet Shopping Center

A fire in the underground parking lot resulted in the deaths of numerous employees of suppliers, marking one of the largest serious accident cases during the early enforcement period of SAPA.

The Firm was present on-site from Day 1 and handled the joint inspection, search and seizure, and investigation of involved personnel. Requests for arrest warrants for all individuals were denied, and no indictments were brought for alleged violations of SAPA.

Series of Serious Accidents at a Steel Company

Multiple serious accidents occurred at a manufacturing plant, and arrest warrants were sought for the representative director and the plant manager on alleged violations of SAPA.

The Firm successfully argued that the allegations were not sufficiently substantiated and that detention was unnecessary. All arrest warrant requests were denied.

Serious Accident at a Construction Company

In a case involving an accident during the installation of a mobile crane, the investigative authority, for the first time, concluded that the construction company that leased and operated the crane at the site was not suspected of violating SAPA or OSHA. The case was closed without charges.

Other Major Serious Accident Responses

Crane accident at Company A’s construction site

Worker congestion accident at Company B’s factory

Chemical leakage at Company C’s facility

Elevator crash at Company D

Fire at Company E’s logistics warehouse

Falling accident at Company F’s construction site

Explosion at Shipbuilding Company G

Water pipe blockage accident at Company H

Workplace vehicle collision at Company I

Electrical accident at Company J’s transmission tower

Structural collapse at Company K’s power plant