Inspection of Structural Safety and Use of Non-KS Certified Secondhand Steel Plates
At the Request of Assemblymen Jang Cheolmin and Park Yonggap
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has decided to launch an emergency inspection regarding the use of non-KS certified secondhand steel plates at the Yudeunggyo temporary bridge construction site, as well as the structural safety of the bridge, through the Daejeon Regional Office of Land and Infrastructure.
This measure was taken at the request of Assemblyman Park Yonggap, who represents Jung-gu, Daejeon, where the Yudeunggyo Bridge is located and serves as a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and Assemblyman Jang Cheolmin (Dong-gu, Daejeon), who first raised the issue.
Through this inspection, the Ministry plans to focus on examining not only the structural safety of the Yudeunggyo temporary bridge, but also whether material quality inspections and approval procedures during the construction process were properly carried out in accordance with the Ministry's regulations.
In particular, the main focus will be on whether the pre-safety inspection procedures specified in the 'General Provisions for Temporary Construction by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport' and the 'Construction Work Quality Testing Standards' were properly implemented.
In response to inquiries from the assembly members' offices, the Daejeon City Government confirmed that the quality inspection was actually requested after the construction had already been completed. There are also criticisms that the pre-inspection system, which is supposed to ensure citizens' safety, did not function properly.
This emergency inspection is being conducted in accordance with Article 57, Paragraph 5 of the 'Construction Technology Promotion Act' (Securing Quality of Construction Materials and Components, etc.), which allows the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to directly verify the quality adequacy of construction materials. If the results are deemed unsatisfactory, the Minister may request corrective orders or other necessary actions from the relevant agencies.
At the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 13th, Assemblyman Jang Cheolmin pointed out that non-KS certified secondhand steel plates were used in the Yudeunggyo temporary bridge, and that the quality inspection, which should have taken place before the materials were brought in, was only requested after construction was essentially completed.
Assemblyman Jang Cheolmin emphasized, "It has become clear that administrative convenience was prioritized over citizens' safety. The Ministry's inspection must not be a mere formality, and responsibility must be clearly identified."
Assemblyman Park Yonggap also stated, "The Yudeunggyo Bridge is a facility directly connected to the daily lives of Daejeon citizens. The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee will thoroughly examine this matter, and if necessary, pursue institutional improvements."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
