"Security Deposit Worries, Where to Find Tenants?" Central Xi Residents Express Frustration [Report]

'Seoul Station Central Xi On-site Countermeasure Meeting' Held on the 28th
Residents Complain of 'Trauma'...Request Temporary Housing Facilities
GS Construction "Emergency Safety Measures Implemented...Will Strengthen Communication Channels"

"I had promised to renew the lease for the house I had been renting out for two years on the 22nd, but an accident occurred on the 20th, two days earlier, and I received a cancellation notice for the renewal contract from the tenant. The lease expires at the end of July, but who would want to move into an apartment where an accident happened? I also have to return the deposit, but I am at a loss as to where to find a tenant immediately." (Owner A, Unit 00, Building 111, Seoul Station Central Xi Apartment)

On the 28th at 7:30 PM, the "Seoul Station Central Xi Accident Site Countermeasure Meeting" was held. Despite the evening hour, more than 200 residents attended the meeting room, leaving no space to move.
[Photo by Kwak Minjae]

At 7:30 p.m. on the 28th, the 'Seoul Station Central Xi Resident Safety On-site Countermeasure Meeting' was held in the basement level 1 of the Jungnim-dong Community Center in Seoul. Despite the evening hour, over 200 residents attended the meeting room, leaving no space to stand. The meeting was briefly paused to prepare additional seating as worried residents kept flooding in. This meeting was organized by Jung-gu Office following the accident on the afternoon of the 20th, where the reinforced concrete of the pilotis columns and marble detached on the 1st floor of lines 3-4 in Building 111 of Seoul Station Central Xi Apartment.

Currently, as a result of a joint inspection by the Seoul City Regional Safety Center Director, structural experts, and the construction company GS Engineering & Construction, the damaged parts were designed as non-load-bearing, and it was judged that there is no structural safety risk such as additional collapse. However, to alleviate residents' anxiety and prevent further accidents, 14 temporary columns (jack supports) have been installed.

GS Engineering & Construction explained that they have implemented emergency safety measures and are strengthening communication channels to ensure residents' safety and ease their concerns. A GS E&C official said, "From the 24th to the 27th, an endoscopic inspection was conducted on similar structural parts of the pilotis area on the 1st floor, and no abnormalities were found; all 44 locations were in good condition. Starting from the 29th, we will operate a customer consultation desk in the basement level 1 of Building 106 within the complex to listen to residents' inconveniences and opinions."

However, the residents' reactions were cold. Resident B, living on the 10th floor of Building 111, said, "I was home during the accident and clearly remember the sound and felt the house shaking. Since then, I wake up at small noises while sleeping, and I get irritated whenever I come home. Repeating that there is no structural safety risk is irresponsible," expressing frustration with tears.

The need for temporary housing facilities and extended customer consultation desk hours was also raised. Resident C, living in Building 107, said, "Residents are traumatized after the accident. For residents with children and others who want it, the construction company should provide temporary housing facilities." He added, "GS E&C says they will operate a customer consultation desk, but the hours are only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The consultation hours should be changed so that working people can also participate."

On the afternoon of the 28th, I visited line 3-4, unit 111, Central Xi Apartments, Manri-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul. A barrier was installed around the area where part of the pilotis was damaged.
[Photo by Kwak Minjae]

Lawsuits from the complex residents are also expected to continue. Previously, residents of this complex filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court for defect repair damages concerning both private and common areas within the complex. It is understood that they plan to add this recent crack case to the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, the Korea Society of Structural Diagnosis and Maintenance Engineering, recommended by the Residents' Representative Meeting, is scheduled to conduct a detailed safety inspection of all buildings, including Building 111 where the accident occurred. GS Engineering & Construction will bear the cost (estimated at about 700 to 800 million KRW). The detailed safety inspection is expected to take about 15 weeks. A GS E&C official stated, "Once the results are out, we plan to organize specific matters such as compensation for damages separately from the lawsuit related to this complex."