Jang Yeon-ju, Gwangju City Council Member, "Stop the Belated Administration That Only Focuses on Damage Control After Accidents"

Urging 'Proactive Implementation of Administrative Measures' in the City... Also Demanding the Establishment of an Industrial Safety and Health Center

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City Council member Jang Yeon-ju urged the city of Gwangju to take proactive and strong administrative measures first in relation to the collapse accident of the newly constructed apartment by Hyundai Development Company.

At the Gwangju City Council extraordinary session held on the 4th, Council member Jang stated in a 5-minute free speech, “It is regrettable that the comprehensive suspension of Hyundai Development Company’s construction in Gwangju and the thorough on-site inspection, which the bereaved families demanded after last year’s Hakdong disaster, were not accepted,” adding, “We must not repeat the reactive administration that only focuses on damage control after an accident occurs.”

She continued, “From this year, the Regional Building Safety Center will be operated in Gwangju, but I doubt whether the hiring of only two professionals will effectively carry out projects for building safety management and prevention of construction site accidents,” emphasizing, “We need to expand personnel and budget so that safety inspections do not remain merely formalities, and establish a public-private cooperation system involving experts and construction workers together.”

She also called for the establishment of an Industrial Safety and Health Center in Gwangju.

Council member Jang said, “In September last year, Gwangju enacted the Industrial Safety and Health Support Ordinance,” and “Although the ordinance includes provisions for the establishment and operation of the Industrial Safety and Health Center and the formation and operation of the Safety Guardian Group, Gwangju has yet to even plan the establishment of the Industrial Safety and Health Center.”

Furthermore, she stated, “It is too complacent and irresponsible administration to think that operating a few safety guardians without creating a professional organization for industrial safety can substitute for the functions of a specialized industrial accident prevention center,” and demanded, “Even now, Gwangju should establish a plan for the establishment of the Industrial Safety and Health Center.”

She added, “Currently, a Special Construction Safety Act, which imposes obligations and responsibilities on clients, constructors, and design supervisors to prioritize safety from the ordering and design stages of construction projects, is pending in the National Assembly,” and “I intend to submit a proposal urging the prompt enactment of the Special Construction Safety Act in the next session. I ask my fellow council members to actively participate in adopting this proposal to prevent the deaths of construction workers who lose their lives every day while working.”

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