Changes in Occupational Safety and Health Indices After the Korean Economic Crisis: Analysis of a National Sample, 1991–2007

摘要

We examined how the deregulation of South Korea's labor laws during the country's 1997 to 1998 economic crisis affected occupational safety and health. Although the economic index improved after the reforms, the total injury rate declined slowly and the incidence of occupational disease increased. The withdrawal of support for occupational safety and health is likely to have a sustained effect on public health. The recent global economic crisis is a convenient time for South Koreans to look back on their experiences during the nation's 1997 to 1998 economic crisis. The earlier crisis resulted in a wide range of economic, political, and social reforms. Although the country emerged from the economic disaster, the crisis led to changes in the occupational sector that had a significant effect on occupational and public health. Previous studies have demonstrated that economic downturns have negative consequences for public health. 1 During these periods, life expectancy is shorter and levels of stress, suicide, disease mortality, and earning-based health inequality increase. 2 – 6 Although it has been suggested that economic crises may have a negative effect on occupational safety and health, 7 , 8 little is known about how reforms made during an economic crisis may affect occupational health indicators. Between 1997 and 1998, Korea underwent a financial crisis caused by a massive decline in its foreign currency reserves. By 1999, the economy showed definite signs of recovery. As a result of the sudden economic depression, the Korean government implemented far-reaching legislative reforms to improve flexibility in the labor market. These reforms included deregulation of occupational safety and health standards, which resulted in a deterioration of standards that were primarily designed to enhance workers’ well-being and to protect them from workplace hazards. We investigated the changes in occupational safety and health that followed reforms in labor regulations made during the 1997–1998 economic crisis in South Korea, focusing in particular on rates of occupational injury and disease.