[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The police investigation into the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City appears to be expanding.
The investigation headquarters for the collapse accident at the newly constructed apartment in Seo-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Police Agency), together with the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office, executed search warrants on the morning of the 19th at the construction headquarters office of Hyundai Development Company’s headquarters in Seoul and at Seo-gu Office.
The police reportedly secured documents related to technology, materials, safety, and contracts (outsourcing) for the Hwajeong I-Park new apartment construction at the headquarters office, and documents regarding complaints and handling status related to the accident site at Seo-gu Office.
The police formed an investigation headquarters immediately after the collapse accident occurred on the 11th and are working to identify the cause and responsible parties, while the Ministry of Labor is conducting an investigation centered on the Gwangju Employment and Labor Office’s Regional Industrial Accident Recovery Headquarters.
A Gwangju Police Agency official stated, "Along with the search for missing persons at the accident site, we will focus our investigative capabilities and proceed with the investigation swiftly. We plan to strictly investigate the cause of the accident and hold those responsible accountable according to law and principles."
So far, the police have conducted searches and seizures at the site office, supervision office, three subcontractors, and ten concrete companies at the accident site, and the day before, they collected extensive concrete samples at the apartment construction site where the collapse occurred.
Those booked as suspects in this case include the Hyundai Development Company site manager and employees, supervisors, and subcontractor site managers, who face charges of professional negligence causing death and violations of the Building Act.
The currently presumed cause of the accident is focused on human error due to poor construction such as failure to install lower floor props and improper concrete curing.
If it is revealed that the headquarters’ instructions led to forcibly proceeding with construction, such as removing props before the concrete had properly cured, or that supervisors and managers at headquarters failed to inspect for poor construction, headquarters personnel are also expected to be subject to punishment.
The materials secured during this search are expected to serve as important evidence in future investigations targeting the headquarters.
The accident occurred around 3:46 p.m. on the 11th when the exterior walls of floors 23 to 38 of Building 201 at the apartment construction site collapsed.
As a result, one worker died and five went missing. It is presumed that they were responsible for window and fire-fighting equipment installation on floors 28 to 34 of the collapsed building.
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