Gwangju Collapse Apartment Prospective Residents Association Strongly Condemns Chairman Chung Mong-gyu's Evasive Resignation as Irresponsible

Lee Seung-yeop, representative of the Gwangju Seo-gu Hwajeong I-Park Preliminary Residents' Association, visited the collapse accident site on the 17th and issued a statement condemning Chung Mong-gyu, chairman of Hyundai Development Company, for evading responsibility through his resignation.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] The I-Park prospective residents' council and emergency response committee related to the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju, strongly condemned the resignation of Chung Mong-gyu, chairman of Hyundai Development Company, as an attempt to evade responsibility.

The prospective residents' representatives issued a statement at the accident site on the morning of the 17th, saying, "Chairman Chung Mong-gyu's resignation appears to be nothing more than a trick to avoid punishment under the Serious Accident Punishment Act scheduled to take effect on the 27th," and added, "It is proper to resign only after taking legal and managerial responsibility."

They continued, "All Hyundai Development Company has done is to offer an excuse to evade responsibility by claiming they did not pressure for construction deadlines immediately after the accident, and to hire Kim & Chang, the largest law firm in Korea," and criticized, "They only hung banners expressing 'sincere apologies' at redevelopment and reconstruction sites nationwide, where construction contracts are about to be awarded."

They also stated, "To expedite the recovery of the missing persons, we urge the chairman to take full charge of the rescue operations by mobilizing the company's entire capabilities," and "Sincerely apologize to the bereaved families and prepare and implement appropriate compensation plans responsibly."

They further mentioned their stance on future apartment reconstruction.

They demanded, "Prepare a detailed and convincing plan for the safe and certain completion of Hwajeong I-Park, disclose it to the prospective residents, and prepare and responsibly implement appropriate compensation plans."

Additionally, they added, "Without any precondition such as safety inspection results, take full responsibility for the Hwajeong-dong I-Park collapse accident by demolishing all of Complex 1 and Complex 2 and proceed with reconstruction," and "Establish and disclose to the entire nation a safety management compliance plan at all stages of construction, including design, construction, and supervision."