HD Hyundai is facing renewed scrutiny over its safety management after a worker died in a fall at the Ulsan plant operated by HD Hyundai M&S on 9 July.
According to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the worker was carrying out maintenance on an overhead crane when he fell from height. No other injuries were reported in the accident.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor and police opened an on-site investigation following the fatality. The Ulsan Branch of the Busan Regional Employment and Labor Office also issued a partial suspension order covering crane maintenance and inspection work at the plant.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it would conduct special safety training across the company and prepare corrective measures to prevent a recurrence.
The fall was the third reported fatal accident this year at a shipyard operated by an HD Hyundai company.
In April, a subcontractor responsible for sea trials died after a fire broke out on a submarine undergoing repairs at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard. The worker had been cleaning inside the submarine when the fire occurred.
Another fatal accident occurred at HD Hyundai Samho in June. A mooring line snapped during mooring operations and struck a shipyard worker, resulting in the worker’s death.
South Korean authorities believe the repeated accidents may indicate structural weaknesses in HD Hyundai’s safety management.
Ministry of Employment and Labor statistics cited in the source showed that work-related fatalities at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries increased from 11 in 2024 to 21 in 2025. This was the largest increase among South Korea’s major shipbuilding companies.
The Korean Metal Workers’ Union attributed the recurring accidents to poor workforce management and insufficient enforcement of safety procedures. The union has called for a special labor inspection.
In 2025, HD Hyundai announced plans to invest up to KRW3.5 trillion, approximately $2.4 billion, in shipyard safety through 2030.
The planned measures included advanced safety systems, upgraded safety facilities and equipment, initiatives to raise employee safety awareness and support for safety programmes at partner companies.
The repeated accidents have led parts of South Korea’s shipbuilding industry to question whether the planned investment is reducing risks at operating sites.
