'Gwangju Hakdong Disaster' HDC Hyundai Development Site Manager: "Non-compliance with Demolition Due to Subcontractor"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] In the trial of the 'Gwangju Hakdong Disaster,' the site manager of HDC Hyundai Development Company testified that the demolition proceeded differently from the dismantling plan and attributed the responsibility to the subcontractor.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Ji-seon) held a trial on the 13th for seven construction-related personnel and three companies indicted on charges including professional negligence causing death and injury, and conducted witness examination of site manager Seo (57).

The demolition of the collapsed Haksan Building proceeded in the order of partial dismantling of the lower part → formation of backfill on the rear and inside → dismantling of parts of the 3rd to 5th floors and rooftop structures.

When asked by the prosecution whether he knew that the demolition work proceeded differently from the dismantling plan, Seo answered, "I did not know well."

Seo emphasized, "Practically, we (Hyundai Development) did not know much about the demolition part, so it was a matter subcontracted." In other words, he claimed that Hansol, which won the demolition work from Hyundai Development, was responsible for professional negligence.

He continued, "It is unfair to say that I consistently feigned ignorance about the construction," adding, "Although I did not know much about demolition or dismantling and could not pretend to know, I have managed the safety of workers very diligently."

After being appointed as site manager in March this year, Seo conducted site patrols once on average in the morning and once in the afternoon as the overall safety and health manager. He added, "I thought the work was carried out according to the level of the dismantling plan as a related person."

Representatives from Hyundai Development and subcontractors Hansol and Dawon ENC held a site meeting around the end of May. In a previous trial, a co-defendant testified in court that Seo pointed out whether it was acceptable to demolish from the rear rather than the side, contrary to the dismantling plan.

Regarding this, Seo said, "I do not know well enough to ask about the demolition sequence to that extent. I do not remember mentioning anything about demolition," and in response to continued prosecution questioning, he replied, "I believe I do not remember. I think I did not."

Regarding questions about whether he deliberately withheld the construction schedule from the supervisor Cha (59, female), who manages and supervises whether the demolition work proceeds according to the dismantling plan, Seo shifted responsibility to the association side.

Seo said, "The supervision contract itself is made with the association, isn't it?" and "The part about consultation or contract should be handled by the association." Later, during cross-examination by the supervisor's lawyer, he said it would have been better if the contractor had consulted about the construction schedule.

Regarding Hansol's illegal subcontracting of internal demolition and structural dismantling work to Baeksol Construction, Seo denied, saying, "I learned about that part after the collapse accident occurred."

Meanwhile, the defendants in this trial are redevelopment contractor Hyundai Development site manager Seo (57), safety manager Kim (57), public affairs manager Noh (53), general building demolition subcontractor Hansol site manager Kang (28), subcontractor Baeksol representative and excavator operator Jo (47), asbestos demolition subcontractor Dawon ENC site manager Kim (49), and demolition site supervisor Cha (59).

They were indicted on charges of ignoring the dismantling plan and regulations or neglecting supervisory duties, causing the collapse accident of a building (5 floors above ground, 1 basement floor) in Gwangju Hakdong District 4 on June 9, resulting in 17 city bus passengers passing nearby being injured or killed (9 deaths, 8 injuries).

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