Korea Expands Year-Round Safety Initiative for Vulnerable Workers

The Korea Labor and Employment Relations Foundation, a public institution operating under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, has announced the full-scale launch of its “Safety-Link Project II: Four Seasons” for 2026. This comprehensive initiative aims to bolster workplace safety and awareness for vulnerable workers, including delivery drivers, courier personnel, and those in emotional labor roles, building on foundational efforts that began in 2025. The project’s overarching goal is to foster a sustainable culture that prioritizes worker well-being throughout the entire year.

The “Four Seasons” project is strategically designed to address the specific safety needs of workers during different times of the year, emphasizing the protection of their lives and safety in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Key activities planned include targeted seasonal safety education, the provision of essential safety equipment, and comprehensive awareness-raising campaigns. Through these multi-faceted efforts, the foundation seeks to eliminate safety blind spots in various workplaces and build a nationwide consensus on the importance of safety through broad public outreach.

The initiative’s “Spring” phase officially commenced on March 31, 2026, marked by focused events in Gimpo and Busan. In Gimpo, the local Worker-Link Center partnered with major platforms like Coupang Eats Service, a prominent food delivery company in Korea, and the Korea Motorcycle Repair Association. Together, they offered free safety inspections and the replacement of consumable parts for motorcycles used by mobile workers, such as delivery drivers, significantly enhancing their road safety.

Concurrently in Busan, the Worker-Link Center hosted an inaugural assembly for “Rider Safety Guardians.” This unique program empowers delivery riders to act as proactive road safety monitors within their communities. Their responsibilities include reporting damaged infrastructure, such as potholes or sinkholes, and documenting dangerous driving behaviors like reckless or drunk driving, thereby contributing to a safer road environment for everyone.

Park Jong-pil, Secretary General of the Korea Labor and Employment Relations Foundation, underscored the profound importance of the project. He stated, “Workers’ lives and safety must be completely protected.” He further emphasized the project’s ambition, adding, “Through this project, we will lay the foundation for safety to be prioritized and practiced in workplaces throughout all four seasons of the year,” reiterating Korea’s steadfast commitment to creating a safer working environment for its entire workforce, especially those in non-traditional employment.

Source: 고용노동부 — Original Article (Korean)