Worker Killed in Crane Counterweight Accident at Bucheon Power Plant Site
South Korea’s labor authorities halted work and opened an investigation after a tower-crane counterweight struck two workers at a power plant construction site in Bucheon, killing one and seriously injuring the other.
A worker was killed and another seriously injured after a tower-crane counterweight struck them at a power plant construction site in Bucheon, west of Seoul, prompting labor authorities to halt operations and investigate possible safety-law violations.
The accident occurred at about 3:10 p.m. on October 9 while workers were installing a counterweight on a tower crane at the site, which is being built by DL E&C. The suspended weight began swinging and hit workers nearby, according to information released by South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor.
One of the workers, a 58-year-old tower-crane operator, was taken to a hospital in cardiac arrest but later died. A second worker, also aged 58, suffered serious injuries and was receiving treatment. Officials had not disclosed the workers’ names or provided further details about the injured worker’s condition at the time of the initial report.
The ministry’s Bucheon branch issued an immediate stop-work order following the accident and began examining how the counterweight moved during the installation process. Investigators will review whether required workplace safety procedures were followed and whether the circumstances constitute violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
The inquiry is expected to focus on the lifting operation, the control of the suspended load and the positioning of workers around the crane. The initial report did not assign responsibility or identify a confirmed mechanical failure, leaving the precise cause to be determined by the official investigation.
Under South Korea’s serious-accident law, a workplace incident falls within the statutory definition of a serious industrial accident when it causes at least one death. The law also covers accidents in which at least two people require six months or more of treatment, as well as certain cases in which three or more workers develop occupational illnesses from the same harmful factor within one year.
The fatality means authorities will examine the case under the framework that applies to deadly workplace accidents, alongside the broader industrial-safety investigation. Any conclusion on whether the contractor or other responsible parties breached their legal duties will depend on evidence gathered at the site, including work plans, supervision records and compliance with safety rules.
The stop-work order will remain a central safeguard while officials assess the cause and determine what corrective steps are necessary before construction activity can safely resume.