Lee Jaemyung Orders Full-Scale Rescue for Gwangju Collapse; Democratic Party Also Directs On-Site Response

Four Workers Trapped as Structure Collapses During Rooftop Concrete Pouring
One Rescued, Another Located as Search Continues
President Lee Orders Full Mobilization of Interior and Labor Ministry Resources
Democratic Party Leader Jeong Cheongrae Dispatches Yang Bunam to Assess On-Site Situation

On December 11, President Lee Jaemyung ordered that all available human and material resources from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, be fully mobilized for rescue operations following the collapse at the Gwangju Representative Library construction site.

The scene of the collapse that started on the rooftop floor, where the rebar and formwork structure fell downwards. Debris of the structure and bent rebar remain as they are. Photo by Song Bohyun

Prior to the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s work briefing held at the Sejong Convention Center that afternoon, President Lee stated, "It appears that four people have been buried due to the collapse at the construction site. It seems that the necessary measures have been taken. The Minister of Labor should finish the report and head to the site. I imagine this is a very distressing situation."

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on Facebook, "A tragic accident has occurred at the Gwangju site. I hope the workers are safely rescued." The Democratic Party reported that Jeong instructed Yang Bunam, head of the Gwangju City Party Committee, to be urgently dispatched to the scene to assess the situation. Jeong also requested a report on any areas where party-level support may be needed regarding the accident.

Earlier, at 1:58 p.m. that day, while concrete was being poured on the rooftop at the Gwangju Representative Library construction site, located at the former Sangmu Incineration Plant site in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, the rebar structure collapsed, burying four workers. The fire authorities rescued one person and transported them to the hospital, discovered another and are continuing rescue operations, and are working to confirm the locations of the remaining two workers.