My company holds a two-day workshop every year which all employees must attend unless there are special circumstances otherwise. The workshop program also includes athletic competitions such as running and tug-of-war. However, during the team-running competition, I twisted my ankle and fell. The hospital diagnosed me as having a sprained ankle and prescribed treatment for a week. Is there any compensation to which I am entitled under Korean labor law?
“Occupational accident” refers to any injury, illness, disability or death of a worker from an occupational cause. In the event that 4 days or more of medical care for injuries or illness are required, in accordance with the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, medical care benefits from the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service shall be paid for medical fees. Also, if workers are not able to work for 4 days or more, they shall receive temporary layoff benefits of an amount equivalent to 70/100 of their average wage during the period when they are not working.
In the event that a worker is injured while participating in an event or work-related gathering outside company premises, when considering circumstances such as the organizer, purpose, details, number of participants, obligation to attend, operating method, and related expenses, if the overall process of the event or meeting is under the management of the employer and the worker is deemed to reasonably not have been away from the work-related event, then any accident that occurs to that worker shall be deemed an occupational accident as prescribed by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act. Therefore, unless there are special circumstances otherwise, since the company holds the event annually at its expense, the employees are obligated to attend, and the accident occurred during the company event, it shall be seen as an occupational accident and you would be eligible for compensation in accordance with the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act. ,