Spreading Prevention Culture in Korea through the promotion and implementation of the Seoul Declaration

We are faced with the sad reality that every year 3.2 million people die and 317 million others get hurt from occupational injuries, while 2.02 million people lose their lives from work-related diseases. Under these circumstances, it is imperative that the international safety and health community work together to advance preventative safety and health culture and to further advance the objectives of the Seoul Declaration.   We should recognize that advancing a preventative safety and health culture is the fundamental basis for realizing the values of the Seoul Declaration.   The world is turning its attention to “Prevention Culture” as a means to solidify the basis for safety and health promotion, while seeking multi-faceted ways to meet the new challenges.  Furthermore, the efforts to spread prevention culture will put a nation into a direct path toward more decent employment, enhanced corporate competitiveness, and economic development.   The world is at a critical juncture, and from now on, occupational safety and health should be approached from a cultural point of view. Therefore, it is meaningful to learn and share the strategies of international organizations and countries around the world regarding prevention culture, thereby contributing to the spread of a systemized prevention culture.