Families of Hakdong Disaster Victims Express "Despair" Over Chung Monggyu's 5 Billion Won Donation to Football Association

Jung Monggyu, President of the Korea Football Association and Chairman of Hyundai Development Company. Yonhap News

HDC Hyundai Development Company President Chung Mong-gyu announced a pledge to donate 5 billion won to the Korea Football Association ahead of the association's presidential election, prompting the Gwangju Hakdong Disaster Bereaved Families Association to express their "devastation."

The association, along with the 4.16 Sewol Ferry Disaster group, stated in a statement the previous day, "While leaving the victims' suffering unattended, his move to donate a large sum for the expansion of football infrastructure is an act of aggravating and disregarding the pain of the victims."

They further claimed, "Seventeen people were killed or injured in the collapse accident at the Hakdong demolition site, where HDC participated as the main contractor," adding, "Proper recovery for these victims has not yet been achieved."

They continued, "Support for the establishment of a trauma treatment center and memorial facilities, as demanded by the bereaved families, has also shown no progress," emphasizing, "Chairman Chung's move to donate a large sum for football infrastructure while neglecting the victims is tantamount to aggravating our pain."

They added, "HDC must demonstrate a commitment to fully taking responsibility for the disaster by securing resources to support the victims," warning, "If not, the company will be criticized for shirking its corporate social responsibility."

Bouquets of flowers and handwritten letters mourning the victims are placed on the road opposite the demolition site of the collapsed building in the Hakdong4 redevelopment area, Donggu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, the Disaster Victims Solidarity also issued a statement criticizing, "Chairman Chung's prioritization of donations for the construction of a football complex center, while ignoring the desperate pleas of disaster victims, is an act of evading responsibility for the disaster and insulting the victims." They continued, "We feel deep anger and disappointment at Chairman Chung's behavior, focusing solely on improving his own image while neglecting promises to the victims," and stressed, "We hope Chairman Chung fulfills his social responsibility and demonstrates the dignity of a global leader who embraces the pain of the victims."

Meanwhile, at 4:22 p.m. on June 9, 2021, at the Hakdong District 4 redevelopment construction site, a five-story building under demolition collapsed onto a city bus stopped at a nearby bus stop, killing nine people and seriously injuring eight others.