Lee Jae-myung: "Companies with Repeated Major Accidents Deserve Construction License Revocation"

Visit to the Site of the "Gwangju Apartment Collapse Accident" "Wrong Industrial Culture Must Change"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is listening to an explanation during his visit to the Hwajeong I-Park collapse accident site on the 27th.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, said, "It is appropriate to revoke construction licenses for companies that repeatedly cause serious accidents to prevent such dangerous business activities."

On the 27th at around 11:30 a.m., Lee met with the families of victims at the site of the Hwajeong I-Park collapse accident in Seo-gu, Gwangju.

Later, he told reporters, "From now on, if such serious disasters are neglected or if there is responsibility, strict accountability must be imposed on the business owners who benefit from it."

Lee said, "It is truly regrettable and shocking that the same type of accident occurred again in the same area by the same business entity," adding, "It is obvious that life is more important than money, but the wrong industrial culture that threatens life to make money must be changed."

He added, "The reason these incidents repeat is simple. They think they can make money by making people work dangerously, and the cost they pay when problems arise is less than the profit gained by taking risks."

He also emphasized, "Today is the first day the Serious Accident Punishment Act is enforced, and from now on, if such serious accidents are neglected or if there is responsibility, strict accountability must be imposed on the business owners who benefit."

At the suggestion of the families of the missing, Lee tried to move near the accident site to inspect it with the families, but he could not go up to the site as work was being carried out near the 22nd floor that day.

Lee So-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's presidential campaign who accompanied Lee, said, "Lee said he would propose to the Prime Minister to personally get involved so that national capabilities and measures are fully mobilized to speed up search and recovery efforts."