Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk: "Hyundai Development Company, Please Take a Responsible Attitude"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the 24th, An Kyung-duk, Minister of Employment and Labor, requested Hyundai Development Company, the construction firm, to take full responsibility at the site of the newly built apartment collapse accident in Gwangju.

Minister An stated, "This accident occurred because safety management during the building construction process was not properly conducted," and added, "Please fully cooperate with safe search activities and structural safety reinforcement to support accident recovery."

He continued, "Although Gwangju City is doing its best to handle the accident recovery, the government has formed a Central Accident Recovery Headquarters to provide more systematic support," promising, "The Central Headquarters will offer more active assistance."

He also said, "We will ensure the safety of workers conducting rescue and operations, including firefighters," and announced, "Experts from related agencies, led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Fire Agency, will gather to devise safe and efficient search plans."

Furthermore, he added, "We will keep the victims' families informed in detail about the progress of the search," and "The cause of the accident will be thoroughly investigated, and strict accountability will be enforced."