Four People Including Officials Related to Gwangju Building Collapse Incident Booked

Charged with Negligent Homicide and Injury in the Course of Duty

Supervisor Investigation Scheduled, "Contact Established"

Park Jeong-bo, head of the investigation headquarters for the Gwangju redevelopment collapse accident, is briefing on the investigation at the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency on the morning of the 11th.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The police have booked four individuals related to the Gwangju building collapse incident on charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury and have imposed travel bans on them.

On the morning of the 11th, Park Jeongbo, head of the Gwangju Redevelopment Collapse Investigation Headquarters, held a briefing and announced that after investigating 14 people including construction officials and witnesses, four individuals with confirmed charges were booked.

They were charged with professional negligence resulting in death or injury.

Additional bookings will be made if illegal activities are confirmed based on the investigation results.

The police regard this incident as a serious case in which many innocent citizens tragically lost their lives. They have established an investigation headquarters consisting of 71 personnel, including five investigation teams such as the City Police Violent Crime Investigation Team and the Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Team, as well as a victim protection team, to conduct the investigation.

On the previous day, a joint first on-site inspection was conducted with related agencies including the police, the National Forensic Service, and the fire department, while search and seizure operations were carried out at five locations including the construction company’s site office and the demolition company’s headquarters.

An inspection supervisor who was not present at the site during the collapse is scheduled to be investigated. It is known that communication with the police is ongoing.

The investigation is also closely examining matters related to subcontracting.

Head of the investigation headquarters Park said, “Through the inspection results and analysis of seized materials, we are verifying whether the demolition was carried out according to the demolition plan and whether safety regulations were followed,” adding, “We will also confirm whether the inspection supervisor properly managed and supervised the demolition company to clearly identify the cause of the collapse.”

He continued, “We will investigate whether there were any illegal activities during the selection process of the demolition company,” and stated, “We plan to conduct a thorough and swift investigation into whether there were violations of the prohibition on subcontracting under the Framework Act on the Construction Industry, as well as any illegal activities in the contract process among the construction company, the association, and the demolition company.”

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