Hyundai Engineering also monitors all domestic sites, with a focus on high-risk work areas, through its CCTV safety control center. (Image courtesy of Hyundai Engineering )
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading construction companies are rolling out advanced monitoring systems and wearable devices to curb workplace accidents, but industry officials acknowledge that technology alone cannot eliminate risks in sprawling, high-density worksites.
According to industry data released Sunday, most major builders now operate centralized control centers linking CCTV footage from nationwide sites to track safety compliance.
DL E&C runs a visual management system that integrates live feeds and incident dashboards, while Hyundai Engineering halts work immediately when violations are detected until headquarters grants approval to resume.
Daewoo Engineering & Construction plans to add AI video analysis to flag missing helmets or harnesses before accidents occur.
Workers are also being outfitted with smart gear, from biometric bands that track body temperature and heart rates to inflatable safety vests and GPS-linked devices that send alerts if they enter restricted zones.
Body cameras are increasingly used to reconstruct accidents, while digital platforms encourage employees to exercise “stop-work authority” by reporting hazards via QR codes or mobile apps, sometimes incentivized with reward points.
To bridge language barriers among migrant workers, GS Engineering & Construction has developed “Xii Voice,” a real-time translation tool that covers more than 120 languages, including specialized construction terms.
Despite these measures, safety officials concede that fundamental risks remain. “Even the most sophisticated technology cannot prevent every accident in large, complex sites,” one industry representative said, noting that smaller firms often lack the capital to adopt such tools.
Between 2021 and June this year, the country’s top 20 builders reported over 20,000 officially recognized industrial accidents, including 210 deaths and nearly 20,000 injuries, according to parliamentary data.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
