"Gwangju Collapse Accident" Nearby Merchants: "On the Brink of Death, but Hyundai Steel Stands By"

Merchants: "Property damage worth billions, immediate living expenses... 'Livelihood at risk'"

Hyundai Development Company: "We will comprehensively assess the damage situation and discuss appropriate compensation"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The aftermath of the Gwangju Seo-gu Hwajeong I-Park collapse accident is intensifying. Merchants who cannot operate their businesses due to blocked access roads have entered a literal 'survival game.' There is an outcry filled with cries of "We are also on the brink of death."

Even if the accident site is restored, there are concerns that the trauma of "what if the building collapses again?" is deeply engraved in the minds of citizens, potentially leading to irreversible damage to the commercial district.

Those who have been ordered to evacuate for safety reasons and literally cannot operate their businesses are worried about immediate issues such as rent and living expenses.

Hyundai Development Company has deployed staff to compensate for damages and is said to be comprehensively listening to the damage situation and making decisions, but merchants are anxious as they do not know when appropriate compensation will be provided.

On the 14th, merchants came out to the accident site and shouted, "Since the outer wall collapse accident on the 11th, shouldn't the CEO come and apologize morally?" They mainly operate stores in the commercial building of the residential complex where the evacuation order was issued.

Hong Seok-seon, chairman of the Hwajeong I-Park construction site damage countermeasure committee, claims that concrete dust has caused skin diseases.

He said, "I have been going to the hospital for two years, and the medical expenses have been considerable, but I have never received any compensation. Hyundai Development, which promised to take responsibility, is now showing an 'I don't care' attitude."

Chairman Hong lamented, "Analyzing National Tax Service data comparing the start of construction by Hyundai Development and before, the total sales of the commercial district decreased by about 2 billion KRW over three years," adding, "Dump trucks and other construction vehicles surrounded the entire commercial district, causing severe damage."

The stationery wholesale store operated by Kim Guk-jung (59) had all its front glass windows shattered, and debris swept in after the collapse, leaving the store covered in dirt. His wife, who was at the counter at the time, was injured by fragments on her shoulder and knee and is currently hospitalized.

Kim said, "When roughly estimating the stationery damaged by the accident, the loss amounted to 200 to 300 million KRW," and expressed frustration, "Since access is blocked and I cannot deliver goods to retailers, I am about to lose all my clients."

Flower wholesaler Kim Nam-pil (68) also said, "It might be difficult for the commercial district itself to survive," and lamented, "Stationery and flowers earn enough in one season to sustain for a year. If business is halted for one or two months, the entire operation cannot survive."

He emphasized, "Compensation is not the most important thing; realistic measures to sell the accumulated goods are needed." His store has about 100 million KRW worth of flowers in inventory.

Regarding this, Hyundai Development stated, "The headquarters has sent staff to listen to the merchants' damage situations and negotiate. About 50 experts, including structural specialists, are working hard to restore the damage."

In addition, 136 nearby residents affected by the accident have been unable to return home since the afternoon of the 11th and are staying in motels.

Many of them are elderly. Due to the sudden evacuation order, residents reportedly could not bring essential items such as their usual medications. They have been instructed to evacuate until the 17th, but this period may be extended.

Gwangju Seo-gu is considering providing these residents with 8,000 KRW per meal per person and 30,000 KRW for lodging, totaling 50,000 to 60,000 KRW per day.