Hyundai Engineering to Conduct Fundamental Review of Safety Management System

On August 19, Woojung Joo, CEO of Hyundai Engineering, the contractor for the Sejong-Anseong Expressway project where a collapse occurred in February this year, stated, "We will thoroughly review the findings of the Construction Accident Investigation Committee and conduct a detailed analysis of the opinions and recommendations presented. We will actively reflect these in our company’s culture and systems, prioritizing safety above all else."

After the committee’s announcement on this day, CEO Joo issued a statement containing these remarks. He said, "Myself and all employees believe that safety is not achieved simply by complying with laws and regulations. It is only truly realized when we continuously reflect and act responsibly to protect each individual’s life and daily routine." He added, "With this conviction and determination, we will place safety, quality, and the environment as our top priorities in all work."

Hyundai Engineering CEO Woojung Joo and employees are bowing their heads in apology during a meeting related to the Seoul-Sejong Expressway accident held at the headquarters building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on February 28. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "We are fundamentally re-examining our safety management system and are also carrying out substantial improvements and maintenance. We will not let these efforts be a one-time event; instead, we will sincerely listen to the insights of both internal members and external experts, and continue our inspection and improvement activities."

The investigation found that the accident occurred when a facility designed to prevent the girder (beam) from toppling was arbitrarily dismantled. According to the relevant manual, the responsibility for inspecting such temporary facilities lies with the contractor, Hyundai Engineering, as identified by the committee.

Oh Hongseob, a professor at Gyeongsang National University and chair of the accident investigation committee, explained, "With the piers being 30 to 50 meters high, it is not easy to visually confirm whether the screw jacks (which prevent toppling) are installed. However, there was a CCTV system, and it was confirmed that the screw jacks were removed, leading us to determine that Hyundai Engineering’s management was inadequate."