'Gwangju Collapse Accident' Ha Won-gi, CEO of HDC Hyundai Development Company, Sent to Prosecution

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Ha Won-gi, CEO of HDC Hyundai Development Company, who is accused of causing the collapse accident at Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park, has been handed over to the prosecution.

The Investigation Headquarters for the Collapse Accident at the Newly Built Apartment in Seo-gu, Gwangju (Gwangju Police Agency) Violent Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 3rd that CEO Ha was sent to the prosecution without detention on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, violation of the Building Act, and violation of the Housing Act.

CEO Ha, who also served as the head of the construction division, is accused of causing the collapse accident that resulted in 6 deaths and 1 injury by failing to sufficiently assign quality managers at the new construction site.

According to the police investigation, a total of six construction quality managers were assigned at the accident site, but since five of them held other concurrent duties, only one person was effectively responsible for quality management tasks.

Regarding this, CEO Ha reportedly stated to the police that "it was a measure according to company regulations," denying his charges.

The police judged that the lack of quality management had a significant causal relationship with the collapse accident and referred the case to the prosecution.

With this, the police investigation into identifying those responsible for the collapse accident has been concluded for the time being.

Meanwhile, HDC Hyundai Development Company replaced two CEOs, Yoo Byung-gyu and Ha Won-gi, on the 25th of last month, just four months after their appointment, and appointed Choi Ik-hoon, CEO of HDC I-Park Mall, as the new CEO.

CEO Ha has moved to the newly established 'Hwajeong I-Park Rebuilding Promotion Team' and is in charge of managing the accident response.