Gwangju Mayor Candidate Joo Ki-hwan "Strengthening Accountability Including Naming Responsible Parties in Case of Safety Accidents"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Joo Ki-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, promised to strengthen accountability by specifying responsible parties in case of safety accidents.

On the 24th, Candidate Joo stated, “Although the trial related to the Hwajeong I-Park disaster has begun, all the indicted responsible parties deny the charges,” and added, “We must promptly revise related regulations or laws to specify responsible parties in various safety accidents and strengthen accountability and punishment.”

He continued, “Since January, Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, officials from the Presidential Transition Committee, and I have visited the apartment collapse site several times to urge safety measures, resulting in complete demolition and full reconstruction,” emphasizing, “If entrusted with Gwangju city administration, I will carry out proactive administration by visiting sites in advance to prevent accidents directly related to citizens’ safety.”

The construction company, HDC Hyundai Development Company, is currently preparing a safety management plan that includes construction methods and safety management measures to be used in the demolition and reconstruction process.

Once submitted to the Seo-gu Office in Gwangju, Seo-gu will decide on approval after review by the Korea Land and Housing Safety Management Institute. Demolition is expected to take place in the second half of this year or the first half of next year.

Reconstruction is known not to require separate permits as the validity of the 2019 project plan approval remains effective.

Candidate Joo added, “I will strengthen industrial accident prevention and create safe construction sites,” and said, “I will establish and operate the ‘Gwangju Citizens’ Safety Committee,’ a governance-type body that will lead the entire process of creating, implementing, and supplementing various policies related to citizens’ safety.”