Far from easing the Serious Accident Punishment Act... Construction Industry Bowing Its Head Over Gwangju Accident

HDC Hyundai Development Company, Another Accident in 7 Months
Providing Justification for the Serious Accident Punishment Act Two Weeks Before Enforcement

On the 12th, the second day since the structural collapse of the Hwajeong Hyundai I-Park mixed-use apartment complex in Seo-gu, Gwangju, drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) operated by rescue authorities are being deployed for safety inspections. The authorities have decided to resume the search for six missing persons after conducting safety assessments.

Just two weeks before the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, the construction industry bowed its head following the collapse accident at an apartment construction site in Gwangju on the 11th. This incident has strengthened calls for enhanced supervision and stricter penalties, putting the construction industry at risk of being blamed as the main culprit behind serious accidents.

According to the Gwangju Fire Headquarters and police on the 12th, at around 3:46 p.m. the previous day, a structure including the exterior walls from the 23rd to 38th floors collapsed on the 39th floor of the Hwajeong Hyundai I-Park construction site in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, while concrete was being poured. One worker sustained minor injuries and is receiving treatment at a hospital, while six workers are currently unaccounted for.

The public criticism of this accident is intense because the contractor is HDC Hyundai Development Company. On June 9 last year, in the redevelopment area of Gwangju Hakdong 4 District, a five-story building under demolition collapsed onto the road, crushing a city bus and resulting in 17 casualties (9 deaths and 8 injuries). HDC Hyundai Development Company was both the redevelopment developer and the primary demolition contractor. Despite promises to strengthen construction safety and prevent recurrence, another construction disaster has occurred in Gwangju just over seven months later, putting the company under scrutiny again.

Authorities believe the accident occurred due to the collapse of the formwork (Gangform) used for concrete pouring and damage to the tower crane support (Wall Tie). There is also a possibility that the strength of the poured concrete was insufficient. During winter, low temperatures prevent concrete from drying properly, so curing processes such as hot air treatment are used to harden it strongly. If the curing is insufficient to shorten the construction period, the strength decreases. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s “Winter Construction Site Safety and Health Guide” warns that "during winter, the strength of concrete is significantly reduced due to delayed hardening and freezing, increasing the risk of collapse," and calls for special caution. This is a fundamental safety issue included in manuals published annually.

As the likelihood that even basic construction safety was neglected grows, this accident is being criticized as a repeat of the “Wow Apartment Collapse Accident.” This disaster, which occurred on April 8, 1970, in Changjeon-dong, Mapo-gu, was a comprehensive tragedy caused by schedule shortening, poor construction, and lax supervision. Not only was the architectural design flawed, but the construction budget was set too low, leading subcontractors to skimp on materials like rebar and cement to maximize profits. The construction period was aggressively shortened to just six months from start to completion.

Hyundai Development Company CEO Yoo Byung-gyu is greeting before announcing an apology near the site of the exterior wall collapse accident at a newly built apartment in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju on the morning of the 12th.

The construction industry is unsettled by HDC Hyundai Development Company’s recent accident. A representative from Company A said, "According to media reports, it appears the curing process was neglected during winter while proceeding with construction," adding, "Especially since the weather at the site dropped below freezing this week, it’s questionable why they pushed ahead so recklessly." A representative from Company B said, "Even those on site said they had never seen a collapse like this before," and added, "This is something you’d expect to see in China, yet it happened in South Korea in 2022."

The construction industry is particularly concerned about the worsening business environment due to this incident. The Serious Accident Punishment Act will come into effect on the 27th of this month. If a serious accident occurs, such as a fatal industrial accident, business owners or management officials may face imprisonment. The construction industry has opposed the act, arguing that "the scope of punishment is ambiguous and excessive penalties could burden companies." However, the series of construction site accidents has eroded the grounds for opposition. A representative from Company C said, "The turning point that completely shifted public opinion on the Serious Accident Punishment Act last year was the Hakdong disaster, and with another accident occurring now, it has only strengthened the justification for the act rather than easing it."

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