Court Recognizes Work-Related Death for Worker Who Died of Pneumonia 16 Years After Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis

The bereaved family of a worker who died of pneumonia 16 years after being diagnosed with pneumoconiosis while working at a quarry has won a lawsuit to have the death recognized as a work-related injury.
The 3rd Administrative Division of the Seoul Administrative Court recently ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the family of the deceased, identified as A, against the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. The family had sought to overturn the agency's decision to deny them pneumoconiosis survivor pension and funeral expenses following A's death in October 2023.
A had worked in dusty environments at sites including a stone quarry for an extended period. In September 2007, A was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (an occupational lung disease) and was assigned a disability grade of 13-16 in November 2010.
A was hospitalized in September 2023 due to breathing difficulties and passed away in October of that year.
The direct cause of death listed on the death certificate was "unspecified pneumonia."
The bereaved family, viewing the death as work-related, filed a claim for the pneumoconiosis survivor pension and funeral expenses with the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service in June 2024.
However, the agency rejected the claim, concluding that A had died from an acute myocardial infarction unrelated to pneumoconiosis, leading the family to file an appeal.
The court ruled in favor of the family, stating, "A significant causal relationship is recognized between the deceased's pneumoconiosis and its complications, and the death."
Citing the opinion of an expert witness, the court noted that A's overall lung function had gradually deteriorated after beginning treatment for pneumoconiosis, and that the cause of death should be considered pneumonia.
The court further determined, "Even if pneumoconiosis and its complications were not the direct cause of death, the chronic worsening of underlying conditions resulting from them led to the development of pneumonia, which the patient could not recover from despite extensive antibiotic treatment, ultimately leading to death."  
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.