LH Mulryangpan Complex 10 Sites Omitted from Full Survey... Criticism on Reliability and Basis for Existence

LH "Unregistered Complexes in Design Information System Under Investigation"
Won Hee-ryong Urges LH President to "Take Responsibility and Enforce Strict Measures"

Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) is facing a blow to the credibility of its inspections after belatedly discovering 10 additional apartment complexes ordered with flat slab structures in their underground parking lots.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is visiting the public sale housing construction site at Hwaseong Bibong A3 Block in Gyeonggi on the 9th, receiving an explanation about the supervision. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

Earlier, following the collapse accident at the underground parking lot of a public apartment in Geomdan New Town, Incheon, at the end of April, LH conducted a comprehensive safety survey of 91 complexes built with flat slab structures in underground parking lots since 2017. The results were announced at the end of July, with 15 complexes undergoing reinforcement work. However, it was revealed just ten days after the announcement that 10 complexes were not even included in the survey target.

LH explained that these complexes were not registered in the design information system, making initial identification difficult, but criticism has arisen regarding possible intentionality and organizational structure. Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, instructed strict measures as this is a matter concerning public safety.

On the 9th, LH announced that while rechecking to ensure no complexes were missed in the Ministry of Land’s comprehensive survey of flat slab structures in private apartments, they identified 10 additional complexes. These include 3 complexes not yet started, 4 under construction, and 3 completed. The total scale is 7,167 households, with 1,871 for sale and 5,296 rental units.

At a meeting held at the construction site of Block A3 in Bibong District, Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, LH President Lee Han-jun said, "I was informed last night at 9:30 PM that 10 complexes were omitted from the comprehensive survey," adding, "We are investigating why these complexes were not properly registered in the system." Regarding the inclusion of Hwaseong Bibong A3 Block, he added, "We found out during the process of confirming the minister’s schedule."

He continued, "LH projects applied flat slab structures only to underground parking lots," and said, "Starting today, we will conduct additional safety inspections on the 10 complexes, which are expected to take about two weeks to complete." Additionally, LH plans to identify whether flat slab structures were applied in 41 complexes under private participation projects. The results are expected within 2 to 3 days at the earliest. This increases the possibility of discovering more complexes with missing rebar.

On the 9th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, visited the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) rental housing site in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, to inspect the safety conditions on site. Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Won was furious over LH’s omission report. Before the start of the supervision status inspection meeting at the site, he said, "I cannot help but say a word about LH’s function and attitude," and criticized, "Does LH, which cannot even grasp the status on the work board, have any grounds to exist?"

He added, "Even if post-reporting was difficult, it is not a matter to be hushed up within the department or covered up within LH and then ask the Ministry of Land for understanding," and said, "LH’s failure to thoroughly grasp such work in front of public safety inevitably deserves public criticism."

Minister Won instructed President Lee to take responsibility and act. He said, "Clarify why the complexes were not fully compiled by early May, why the self-correcting function did not operate immediately when the staff discovered it later, and strictly prevent any attempts to evade the situation with lies," adding, "To ensure the organization functions properly, fundamentally overhaul the system, and after assessing the situation, take personnel actions against those responsible according to the severity."

Regarding supervision, he announced plans to prepare institutional improvement measures. On site, measures such as mandatory placement of supervisors in their 30s to 40s and establishment of national standards for drawing preparation were mentioned as countermeasures against poor supervision. Minister Won emphasized, "Supervisors must oversee the site with the homeowner’s mindset on behalf of the public, but they are only obsessed with winning contracts," and said, "Supervisors should cultivate expertise and take responsibility with the determination to be reborn to regain the lost public trust."