"With the Arrest of Mun Heung-sik... Corruption in the Hakdong Tragedy Must Be Exposed"

Hakdong Disaster Citizens' Committee 'Protest Visit' to Gwangju Police Agency... "Urging Unbiased Investigation"

The Citizens' Countermeasures Committee for the Hakdong Disaster held a press conference on the morning of the 13th at the Gwangju Police Agency, urging the police to conduct a thorough investigation following the arrest of former 5·18 Detained and Injured Association President Moon Heung-sik. / Photo by Jo Hyung-ju ives0815@

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] On the 13th, civic groups in the Gwangju area gathered in front of the main gate of the Gwangju Police Agency to urge a thorough police investigation into redevelopment corruption in general, triggered by the arrest of former 5·18 Detained and Injured Association Chairman Moon Heung-sik.

The 'Hakdong Disaster Citizens' Countermeasures Committee,' composed of about 40 civic groups in the Gwangju area, held a press conference that morning and stated, "Moon, who is the background of the contract corruption in the demolition work that caused the Hakdong collapse disaster, has been arrested," and "The police should reveal the cause of the disaster without any suspicion through a rigorous and unreserved investigation of Mr. Moon Heung-sik."

They emphasized, "The investigation into Mr. Moon must also thoroughly uncover the truth regarding the allegations that he conspired with local organized crime member Lee (73), who is already detained, received billions of won from demolition and maintenance companies in exchange for demolition contracts, and obstructed fair bidding competition."

They continued, "An investigation into whether the redevelopment association and Hyundai Development Company colluded during the illegal contract process must also be clearly conducted," and "The role of Hyundai Development Company in the illegal contract process must be revealed."

Furthermore, they said, "The investigation into Mr. Moon should be expanded to cover the entire corruption in the Hakdong 4 District redevelopment project," and "We expect the police to clearly uncover the raised suspicions and to escape the stigma of inadequate or lenient investigations."

Finally, they stated, "Only a thorough investigation will ensure that the sacrifices of the Hakdong disaster victims are not in vain and will mature our society into a safer and more just society through the lessons learned from the disaster."

After the press conference, the countermeasures committee also delivered a protest letter to the Gwangju Police Agency's civil affairs office.

Earlier, on June 9, at the demolition site of the Hakdong 4 District redevelopment project in Dong-gu, Gwangju City, a five-story building collapsed, resulting in 17 casualties. During the subsequent police investigation, suspicions arose that Mr. Moon received bribes and intervened in the selection of the demolition company, sparking controversy over responsibility for causing the collapse accident.

Mr. Moon fled to the United States four days after the accident on June 13 but was arrested by the police at Incheon International Airport on the 11th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.