"Missing Person Rescue Not Done Yet" Residents Angry at Hyundai Engineering & Construction Large Law Firm Senior Partner

Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park Prospective Residents' 청 National Petition 'Condemnation'

"Full Demolition and Reconstruction Required Regardless of Safety Inspection Results"

Cheong Wa Dae National Petition Post.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] A petition condemning the appointment of a major law firm by Hyundai Development Company was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board under the title "I am a prospective resident of Hwajeong I-Park."

On the 14th, the petitioner, who identified themselves as a prospective resident of Hwajeong I-Park Complex 2 in Gwangju, wrote, "When I first purchased the apartment, it was a major issue in Gwangju due to its high sale price," adding, "The location is good, and since it was said that a top-tier company would add a touch of brilliance, I used my precious one-time newlywed special supply for Hwajeong I-Park."

They continued, "Ahead of the November move-in, I had already sold my previous home and was living in a monthly rental with my young children," and "One day, while holding onto the hope that I would soon enter my precious home, I heard the news of the accident."

The petitioner expressed, "The moment I saw the photo of the apartment collapsed in ruins, I froze on the spot and could do nothing," and "After confirming the facts, I could not even express the pain of losing my home due to the disappearance of the workers who were working there."

They also said, "While desperately waiting for the missing persons to be rescued, I came across an article stating that Hyundai Development Company had appointed a major law firm as their legal representative," and strongly criticized, "I am extremely angry. Without any stance on countermeasures, without even a single word of apology or a statement asking prospective residents to wait, why would they appoint a major law firm to prepare for something?"

They added, "I believed that Hyundai Development Company, which took many lives in the demolition accident during the redevelopment of Hakdong 4 District, was building Hwajeong-dong I-Park with greater attention to safety," and "This incident occurred only 217 days after the Hakdong 4 District redevelopment demolition accident."

Furthermore, they said, "Even if the safety inspection results lead only to reinforcement, the psychological anxiety can never be resolved," and "The thought of my children sleeping there never leaves my mind."

They also stated that this apartment collapse accident "did not guarantee safety to the extent that rescuing the missing persons was not easily possible," and "Would anyone move in after being told to do so following reinforcement based on a single safety inspection result, not knowing whether people were dead or alive?"

They appealed, "I do not want to live with my beloved family in that apartment in fear and pain for the rest of our lives," and "Regardless of the safety inspection results, even if it takes several more years, please help us make this a lesson and allow for complete demolition and reconstruction."

Meanwhile, this petition had received 3,067 endorsements as of 5:42 p.m. on the same day.