Investigation Headquarters Elevated for 'Gwangju Collapse Accident'... Gwangju Police Chief Directly Commands

10 Construction Officials Indicted, 14 Barred from Leaving the Country

On the 19th, officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police moved seized items after completing a search of the HDC Hyundai Development Company headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in connection with the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police investigating the collapse accident at Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park, which resulted in one death and five missing persons, have elevated the head of the investigation headquarters to the Gwangju Police Chief and are accelerating the investigation by extensively questioning construction-related personnel.

Nam Gu-jun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, stated at a press conference on the 24th, "Starting this week, we have elevated the head of the investigation headquarters to the Gwangju Police Chief and increased the investigation personnel by 20, reinforcing the team to a total of 89 members."

So far, the police have questioned 41 related personnel, including the site manager of HDC Hyundai Development Company, and have booked 10 individuals. Additionally, 14 people have been banned from leaving the country, and searches and seizures have been conducted at a total of 29 locations, including the headquarters of Hyundai Development Company. Head Nam explained, "We have organized a victim protection team and are establishing support measures for the families of the missing."

The joint forensic investigation to determine the cause of the collapse is scheduled to proceed once the search for the missing is completed and safety is secured. A police official said, "We are focusing on the search for human lives," adding, "We are examining all major possible causes of the collapse."