EXPERTISE - DR & AJU LLC

DR & AJU’s Serious Accidents Practice Group provides comprehensive legal solutions to address the heightened legal risks corporate executives face under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act ("SAPA"), which took effect on January 27, 2022.

1. Overview of Serious Accidents Practice Group

The Serious Accidents Practice Group, led by Partner Dong Eon CHA, consists of over 30 specialists with diverse career backgrounds in the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA). To further enhance expertise, the group collaborates closely with Professor Jin Woo JUNG, a renowned OSHA expert from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA), a leading organization known for its precision in safety diagnostics.

Moreover, we leverage our extensive network to monitor legislative developments from the early stages of SAPA’s enactment. We also conduct seminars and educational sessions at various forums, including the Future Leader’s Forum and the SAFE with Us! Forum on Industrial Safety for the Prevention of Serious Accidents.

Our consulting services provide comprehensive legal guidance to mitigate legal risks under the SAPA. We establish and audit company-wide safety and health management processes and develop response strategies for serious accidents. Additionally, we offer technical consulting to support the implementation of safety and health management systems in collaboration with relevant institutions.

2. Introduction of SAPA Compliance Certification (SCC)

In December 2022, DR & AJU became the first domestic law firm to introduce a certification program in response to the SAPA. The SAPA Compliance Certification (SCC) is a systematic inspection and certification program designed to ensure that companies are effectively implementing their safety and health management obligations under the SAPA.

Companies participating in the SCC program undergo an inspection of their compliance with the safety and health management obligations specified in the SAPA. They are also provided with recommendations for improvements to ensure full compliance. This process helps companies naturally develop a robust system for responding to the SAPA.

DR & AJU Serious Accidents Practice Group remains committed to preventing serious accidents and supporting businesses in securing industrial safety. This commitment includes the launch of a joint certification center for the SCC on August 30, 2024, in collaboration with the Construction Association of Korea (CAK), which is the majority shareholder of The Korea Economic News. In addition, on June 5, we signed an MoU with Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance to jointly market Serious Accident Insurance and the SCC.

As of September 2024, over 170 companies have participated in the SCC program. For the latest information on the SCC operation status, please refer to the link below. If you have any questions regarding the SCC, please contact DR & AJU’s partners: Young Kyu KIM, Dhong Joo KIM, or Sung Jin KIM.

Current Status of SAPA Compliance Certification

3. Legal Assistance for Serious Accidents Investigation

Furthermore, the DR & AJU Serious Accidents Practice Group operates a dedicated SAPA response team, comprising former prosecutors, police officers, and other professionals equipped with specialized expertise to actively manage the criminal risks associated with serious accidents. The Practice Group has successfully handled numerous investigation response cases involving investigations by the prosecution, the police, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. For information on successful legal assistance cases related to serious accident investigations, please refer to the link below.

Successful Cases of Legal Assistance for Serious Accidents Investigation

Practice Areas

Professionals