South Korea’s First VR Safety Center Debuts

Gimhae, a city in South Gyeongsang Province, has opened South Korea’s first virtual reality (VR) industrial safety training center dedicated to foreign workers. Located at the Gimhae Foreign Workers Support Center, the facility was launched on July 22 and is operated by the center with full funding from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA).

The VR training program uses immersive simulations to teach workers how to identify and respond to workplace hazards, using visual and audio cues to minimize language and cultural barriers.

Gimhae, home to over 13,000 foreign workers—more than 40% of its foreign resident population—was selected as the pilot city for the project following a roundtable discussion in March involving local officials and KOSHA.

The facility enables foreign workers to engage with realistic workplace hazard simulations and develop practical safety skills, with plans to expand the program nationally.