Gwangju Representative Library Collapse: Police Book Four Construction Officials as Suspects

Charged with Occupational Negligence Resulting in Death
Joint On-Site Inspection and Search Operations Underway
Investigation Expands to Construction, Supervision, and Design

On the afternoon of the 16th, related agencies including the National Forensic Service, police, and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency are conducting a joint investigation at the collapse site of the Gwangju Representative Library in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

In connection with the collapse of the Gwangju Representative Library, which resulted in four fatalities, the police have booked construction officials as suspects and have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the cause.

The dedicated investigation headquarters of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 17th that, as of the previous day, it had booked four individuals, including officials from the construction company of the Gwangju Representative Library, without detention on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death. They are accused of failing to fulfill their duty of care in relation to the accident that occurred at 1:58 p.m. on December 11 at the former Sangmu Incineration Plant site in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, resulting in the deaths of four workers.

In addition, the police have imposed travel bans on 12 other individuals involved in the construction project. So far, through a second round of search and seizure operations, the authorities have secured 15 mobile phones and other related materials from 10 locations, including seven companies such as the construction firm and its subcontractors.

The first on-site forensic inspection since the recovery of the victims’ bodies was also conducted on this day. The joint investigation, which included the National Forensic Service, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, involved more than 30 participants, including structural safety engineers and private experts in architectural engineering. The inspection began at around 2:30 p.m. and concluded after about three hours. Additional inspections will be conducted if necessary.

The police plan to focus on clarifying the direct cause of the accident, particularly on suspicions raised from the outset, such as the possibility of poor construction at the steel structure joints, since the accident occurred when the steel structure collapsed on the day concrete was poured. They will also examine whether materials and construction were carried out according to the design specifications, and whether the supervision and oversight by the inspection team for each stage of the process were appropriate.

On the 16th, related agencies including the National Forensic Service, police, and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency are conducting a joint investigation at the collapse site of the Gwangju Representative Library in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

The possibility that the construction method itself, which was applied to this project, may have caused the accident will also be reviewed during the detailed analysis following the on-site inspection. The Gwangju Representative Library is a large-scale building, measuring 168 meters in length, and a specific construction method was used to implement a design selected through an international design competition. This method reportedly involved connecting three steel structures in succession, each with a span of 48 meters between columns, without using auxiliary supports. The collapse occurred in the middle section of this structure.

The police intend to determine the cause of the accident and assign responsibility by compiling the opinions of the participating agencies and experts. If negligence is confirmed, such as poor construction, inadequate supervision, or design flaws, those responsible will face criminal charges.

Meanwhile, the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office is separately investigating possible violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Park Dongseong, head of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency’s Criminal Mobile Unit, stated, "Through this inspection, we will thoroughly examine not only the cause of the collapse but also whether there were any problems with the overall design and construction."