11 Out of 13 Buildings Rated "Use Restricted" After Detailed Safety Inspection
Gwangju City Offers Only Insurance and Temporary Housing, Deepening Residents' Distrust
City and District Council Members Criticize "Dispersing Responsibility Is Disappointing"
An official from Gwangju Buk-gu Office is attaching a "No Entry" notice to a dangerous building near the construction site of Urban Railroad Line 2 on the 2nd. Provided by Buk-gu Office
Although the city of Gwangju held a briefing session for residents of Jungheung-dong in Buk-gu, who have suffered from collapsed fences and cracked walls due to the construction of Urban Railway Line 2, the atmosphere at the event was heated with residents' protests.
During a detailed safety inspection conducted between July and September, 11 out of 13 buildings were rated as Grade E, meaning they should be taken out of use immediately. However, the city repeatedly stated that "it is difficult to pinpoint the cause," and announced that compensation would rely on construction damage insurance, which only intensified the conflict.
The briefing session for residents, held on the afternoon of October 15 at the Jungheung 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Buk-gu, Gwangju, was organized to share the results of the emergency detailed safety inspection conducted by the city from July 21 to September 18. Of the buildings inspected, two received a Grade D rating, indicating urgent repairs were needed, while eleven were rated Grade E, making use restrictions unavoidable.
Throughout the session, residents voiced their dissatisfaction. They protested, "Only the results have been presented, but not the causes. Please explain why our houses have collapsed," and "Our neighbor's house is the same age and is fine-why is it only ours?" Some residents left the venue in frustration, saying, "You are giving us the same answers as last time," while another resident demanded, "We want to return home. We need a specific timeline for restoration and reconstruction."
On the afternoon of the 15th, at the Jungheung 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Buk-gu, Gwangju, a briefing session for residents affected by the construction of Urban Railway Line 2 was held. Photo by Song Bohyun
According to the city, this briefing session was not intended to reach a conclusion but rather to inform residents about emergency repairs and relocation plans, and to listen to their opinions.
A city official explained, "Through the construction damage insurance system, we provide support not only for repair costs but also for business losses and psychological damages caused by subway construction. If residents are dissatisfied with the insurance payout, they can apply for compensation mediation through the Central Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee under the Ministry of Environment, and we can also provide support for related administrative work and costs."
The official added, "We have secured 26 apartment units that can be used as temporary housing for residents currently staying in motels and other accommodations under the evacuation order. Swift relocation is necessary for safety. We will prioritize communication and consultation with residents moving forward."
This briefing session also coincided with Buk-gu's emergency evacuation notice issued last month. Although the city of Gwangju completed its inspection on September 18, it did not notify Buk-gu of the results until October 1, about two weeks later. Buk-gu immediately informed residents to evacuate, and District Mayor Moon In criticized the city, calling it "a serious issue threatening residents' safety."
As the briefing session concluded in confusion, Shin Sujeong, Chairperson of the Gwangju City Council, who attended the event, said, "Residents must have come here hoping for something, and I feel deeply ashamed. Please do not let this happen again next time." Buk-gu council members Ko Youngim and Jeon Miyong also criticized city officials, saying, "Today's meeting did not resonate with the residents at all," and "The city's attitude of trying to shift responsibility is disappointing."
Meanwhile, the city of Gwangju initially planned to hold the briefing session privately, but it was made public after residents at the scene protested, saying, "Why are you using us as an excuse to block the media?"
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