KCTU Condemns "Slap on the Wrist" Punishment for Hwagjeong I-Park Accident Responsible Parties

Statement... "Court Ruling Grants 'Immunity' to Major Corporations"

A memorial ceremony is being held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Hwajeong I-Park construction site in Seo-gu, Gwangju, marking the 3rd anniversary of the Hwajeong I-Park collapse accident. Photo by Yonhap News

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) condemned the lenient court rulings against the main parties responsible for the Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park collapse, which resulted in seven casualties.

On the 21st, the Gwangju branch of the KCTU released a statement, saying, "On the 20th, the Gwangju District Court delivered guilty verdicts to the on-site supervisors of the main contractor and subcontractors in relation to the Hwajeong I-Park accident, but acquitted two former CEOs of Hyundai Development Company (HDC), the main contractor and builder." They added, "This ruling effectively gives a free pass to the 'safety insensitivity' prevalent in our society."

The branch stated, "The court justified the acquittal of HDC's management by claiming they had no direct duty of care regarding construction and safety management, and that, since the incident occurred before the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the management could not be held liable." They emphasized, "How can the CEO of the builder not bear direct responsibility for construction and safety management when a major accident with casualties occurred due to a building collapse? This is nothing but sophistry, and can only be seen as an 'overtly pro-corporate ruling.'"

They further pointed out, "Even after the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, industrial accidents have not decreased. In 2023, the number of workers who suffered industrial accidents was 136,796, the highest in the past decade." They added, "Looking at the industrial accident statistics for the top 20 construction companies by construction capacity, the number of accident victims increased from 1,458 in 2021 to 1,631 in 2022 and 2,194 in 2023, a rise of over 50% in just two years."

They continued, "The Serious Accidents Punishment Act has failed to serve its intended purpose and has become a paper tiger." They explained, "Of the 27 first-instance verdicts delivered over two years and nine months from the act's enforcement until October last year, only four cases (14.8%) resulted in actual prison sentences."

Additionally, they stated, "The Serious Accidents Punishment Act alone is insufficient to create a safe society, so stronger legislation is needed," adding, "Safety is not a choice but a necessity."

Meanwhile, in the sentencing of those responsible, which took place three years after the accident, the court handed down prison sentences of up to four years to the on-site supervisors of HDC and subcontractors. However, the former CEO and other executives of HDC, who were indicted on the same charges, were acquitted on the grounds that they were not directly responsible for the accident.