Costco employee's death ruled an industrial accident

The death of Costco employee Kim Dong-ho, caused by extreme heat and severe dehydration, has been officially recognized as an industrial accident. An investigation is underway to determine whether Costco violated safety regulations.

A shopping cart is placed in front of Costco Korea's Gwangmyeong headquarters in Gyeonggi on Aug. 2 as a tribute to a Costco employee who, due to working in scorching heat, had passed away while organizing shopping carts. [NEWS1]

The death of Costco employee Kim Dong-ho, who died while organizing shopping carts under extreme heat conditions, has been officially recognized as an industrial accident.

The Seongnam branch of the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service made the acknowledgment on Tuesday after Kim's family submitted an application for occupational injury.

Kim collapsed on June 19 in the parking lot of the Hanam branch of Costco Korea in Gyeonggi. The 29-year-old employee had been working in extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit), and had walked nearly 30,000 steps that day.

Medical experts have attributed Kim's death to a “pulmonary embolism caused by heat wave and severe dehydration.”

Attorney Kwon Dong-hee at the Work and Human law office, who is representing Kim's case, highlighted the absence of adequate protective measures for employees exposed to extreme indoor temperatures.

“The death could have been prevented with basic protections for workers, such as proper staffing, and access to breaks and rest facilities,” Kwon said. “We need Costco Korea to apologize to the families and promise to prevent a recurrence.”

The Ministry of Employment and Labor is currently conducting an investigation to determine whether Costco Korea violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accident Punishment Act.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]