More than 100 workers a year have been recognized as dying in commuting accidents under South Korea's industrial accident compensation system.
Survivor benefit approvals for deaths in commuting accidents totaled 125 in 2021, 141 in 2022, 128 in 2023, 112 in 2024 and 127 last year, according to data the Ministry of Employment and Labor submitted to the office of Rep. Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, on the 27th. A further 74 cases were approved through July this year.
Claims for commuting-related industrial accidents have also risen steadily. They increased from 8,932 in 2021 to 9,326 in 2022 and 11,752 in 2023, topping 10,000 for the first time, before climbing to 12,864 in 2024. Last year, 14,075 claims were filed, of which 13,308 were recognized as industrial accidents. Another 8,778 claims were received through July this year.
The scope of recognition for commuting accidents is relatively broad. Workers who stray briefly from their usual commuting route for activities necessary to daily life, such as taking children to and from school or visiting a hospital, can still qualify if certain conditions are met.
In the past, only accidents that occurred during a commute under the employer's supervision and control were recognized. Since the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act was revised in 2018, accidents that occur while commuting by an ordinary route and means have also been covered.
Recognition is difficult, however, when the link between the commute and work has been broken. Accidents that happen during activities for personal purposes — such as an injury while exercising at a gym after work or an accident during private drinking after finishing work — do not in principle qualify as commuting industrial accidents.
