Law Firm Taepyungyang Also Shows Signs of Joining
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] HDC Hyundai Development Company, the construction firm responsible for the 'Hwajeong I-Park' in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, where an exterior wall collapse accident occurred, is reported on the 14th to have appointed Kim & Chang, the largest law firm in South Korea, to undertake legal action. In addition to Kim & Chang, several other major law firms have expressed their willingness to take on the case, raising the possibility of a large-scale legal response team being formed.
According to a comprehensive report from our investigation, HDC Hyundai Development Company held a meeting with Kim & Chang on the 12th and agreed to entrust them with legal advice and criminal response. Accordingly, Kim & Chang is expected to represent HDC Hyundai Development Company not only in the ongoing investigation but also in future trials. The police investigating the case have currently booked and are investigating Site Manager A, who was in charge of the apartment construction process, on charges of professional negligence causing injury. Following the investigation, HDC Hyundai Development Company may be prosecuted under the joint liability provision and face criminal trial.
Kim & Chang is known to deploy its 'Serious Accident Response Group,' which has been operating since early last year, for this case. The Serious Accident Response Group consists of about 100 members, including lawyers specializing in labor and criminal cases, as well as former officials with experience working at related agencies such as the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. They also support the investigative authorities in responding to inquiries.
Kim & Chang was also responsible for the criminal defense of HDC Hyundai Development Company during the 'Gwangju Hakdong Redevelopment Collapse Disaster' in June last year. That accident occurred during building demolition, resulting in 9 deaths and 8 injuries. Police investigations revealed poor safety supervision and management, as well as tacit approval of illegal subcontracting. HDC Hyundai Development Company was indicted on charges of professional negligence causing injury, and the trial is currently ongoing.
Alongside Kim & Chang, it has been confirmed that Taepyungyang Law Firm, considered one of the top three law firms in South Korea, has also entered the competition to take on the case. Taepyungyang has shown active efforts to secure the case, including visiting the site to assess the situation after the accident. It is unusual for a major law firm to directly inspect the accident site. A Taepyungyang representative stated, "This is a case that all law firms are interested in," adding, "We are currently reviewing whether to take on the case."
In the legal community, it is widely expected that HDC Hyundai Development Company will appoint multiple major law firms such as Kim & Chang and Taepyungyang to mount a legal response to this accident. From HDC Hyundai Development Company's perspective, they have sufficient resources, and seeking legal advice from multiple law firms is considered advantageous for their response. A lawyer in Seocho-dong commented, "Assigning the case to one law firm does not mean all personnel are concentrated there; there are limitations," adding, "From HDC Hyundai Development Company's standpoint, if competition among law firms leads to various perspectives being presented, it will be much easier to handle the legal response."
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