Longer lunches, more breaks as South Korea’s workplaces battle heat

South Korea’s sweltering summer has brought out the best in some large corporations, but also starkly revealed the worst. Companies like Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Lotte E&C, and Daewoo E&C are taking steps to protect their workers from heat-related injuries by implementing advanced monitoring systems, cooling gear, and generous breaks.

This trend is not new; it’s a long-standing concern in South Korea’s workplaces. Large companies have traditionally had more resources to devote to worker safety, but the current heat wave has highlighted the need for action. Representative Kim Wi-sang points out that most heat-related accidents occur at companies with fewer than 50 employees, which often lack the expertise and resources to provide adequate protection.

The Korean government’s failure to address the root causes of heat-related injuries in smaller workplaces and among migrant laborers is a major issue. Despite several high-profile cases of migrant workers succumbing to heat exhaustion on construction sites and farms, meaningful change has yet to occur. The 2025 conviction of a construction company under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act marked a turning point in public awareness, but it has not translated into improved protections for vulnerable workers.

While companies like Hyundai E&C and Kumho E&C are implementing innovative solutions to combat heat stress, they are essentially treating symptoms rather than addressing systemic issues. This approach neglects the fact that South Korea’s labor laws and enforcement mechanisms have failed migrant workers and small business owners.

Companies introducing measures such as extended breaks and cooling gear, like Posco and Hyundai Steel, highlight the uneven playing field. Large corporations can afford to invest in expensive monitoring systems and provide their employees with cooling vests and rehydration solutions, while smaller businesses struggle to keep up – or worse, ignore the problem altogether.

As the summer wears on, Representative Kim’s call for stronger inspections and protections for migrant workers and small business owners must be taken seriously. It’s time for policymakers to recognize that heat-related injuries are not simply a workplace hazard but also a symptom of a deeper issue: an economy that prioritizes productivity over people.

The divide between South Korea’s haves and have-nots will only become more pronounced as temperatures continue to soar. Will this be the wake-up call that prompts real change, or just another forgotten chapter in the country’s labor struggles? The answer lies with the Korean government, which must address the root causes of heat-related injuries before its workers – especially those at smaller workplaces and migrant laborers – suffer any further.