Deputy Minister-Level Promotion of Gwangju Accident Response Headquarters: "Doing Our Best for Rapid Rescue"

Expansion of the 'Central Industrial Accident Response Headquarters' Established on the 11th

On the afternoon of the 13th, a 119 paramedic searches for missing persons at the site of a newly constructed apartment collapse accident in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Employment and Labor will expand the Central Industrial Accident Response Headquarters, which was established at the site on the 11th to promptly respond to the collapse accident that occurred at the apartment construction site in Hwajeong-dong, Gwangju.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it plans to elevate the head of the response headquarters to a vice-ministerial level and hold meetings involving related ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Fire Agency, and the National Police Agency as needed. The purpose is to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation by sharing the accident response status in real time. Previously, the response headquarters held meetings chaired by the Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Headquarters to review the search and rescue of missing persons, investigation and prosecution of the accident cause, and support for the families of the missing. On the same day, a response strategy meeting was held chaired by the Mayor of Gwangju to discuss structural measures such as the prompt and safe installation and dismantling of cranes.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "Considering the situation that requires systematic support from central administrative agencies, we are expanding the operation of the headquarters," and added, "We will do our best to support the prompt search for missing persons and accident response."