What does South Korea’s Framework Act on Life and Safety require of the government?

The law stipulates that the country and local governments must ensure people’s rights to safety, including protection of their lives and property and the ability to lead safe lives. President Lee Jae Myung called for efforts to ensure those rights under the law.

Why did President Lee Jae Myung call for faster government action on safety?

Lee said people were still losing their lives in various parts of society and that the government should act more promptly to minimize deaths wherever possible. He also said the new law reflects the nation’s commitment to preventing deaths caused by a lack of government intervention.

How many people were killed or injured in the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush?

The crowd crush in Seoul’s Itaewon district killed 159 people and left nearly 200 others injured. The meeting of the presidential committee on life and safety took place a day before the incident’s fourth anniversary.

Lee says nothing takes precedence over people's lives, safety

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung urged maximum government efforts to prevent safety-related accidents Wednesday at a meeting of the presidential committee on life and safety. He said protecting people’s lives and safety must take precedence over everything and called for faster government action to minimize deaths. The Framework Act on Life and Safety, passed by the National Assembly on May 7, is scheduled to take effect next Wednesday. The meeting included about 70 government officials, victims of safety incidents and their family members.

Key Facts

The law sets out duties for the national and local governments to protect people’s lives and property and ensure their right to lead safe lives.
The law follows several deadly incidents in Korea, including the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which killed 159 people and injured nearly 200 others.
The meeting took place a day before the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 28, 2026 11:09 am KST
Updated Oct 28, 2026 3:49 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung urged maximum government efforts to prevent safety-related accidents Wednesday, saying nothing should take precedence over protecting people's lives and safety.

Lee made the remarks at the second plenary meeting of the presidential committee on life and safety as the Framework Act on Life and Safety is scheduled to take effect next Wednesday.

The National Assembly passed the law on May 7, which stipulates the duties of the country and local governments to ensure people's rights to safety, including the rights to have their lives and properties protected, and to lead safe lives.

The new law follows several high-profile deadly incidents in Korea, including the 2022 crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district, which left 159 people dead and nearly 200 others injured.

Wednesday's meeting came a day before Korea marks the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush.

"There is no value that takes precedence over protecting people's lives and safety," Lee said, reiterating his government's commitment to public safety.

The president stressed that the new law reflects the nation's commitment to preventing the loss of precious lives due to a lack of government intervention, calling for efforts to ensure the public's rights to safety as stipulated by the law.

"Even at this moment, many people are losing their lives in various parts of our society. The government should act more promptly to minimize deaths wherever possible," he said.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by about 70 government officials, victims of safety incidents and their family members.

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