Won Hee-ryong: "Hwajeong I-Park Demolition and Reconstruction Should Be an Opportunity to Improve Safety Culture"

Won Hee-ryong, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is delivering opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Won Hee-ryong, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated that HDC Hyundai Development Company’s announcement to completely demolish and reconstruct the Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park apartment complex is hoped to serve as an opportunity to improve safety culture.

On the same day, Won posted an article related to the demolition and reconstruction of Hwajeong I-Park on social media (SNS), writing, "I hope Hyundai Development Company’s agonizing decision to 'completely demolish and reconstruct the Gwangju Hwajeong-dong I-Park' will be a turning point that dramatically raises the safety culture in our country."

Earlier that morning, Chung Mong-gyu, chairman of HDC Group, announced at a press conference held at Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, "We will demolish all eight buildings as requested by the prospective residents and build a new I-Park."

Previously, on the 29th of last month, Won visited the collapsed site of Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park and met with prospective residents, where he remarked that "If such an incident happens again, companies should go bankrupt and public officials should go to prison."

When asked about Won’s remarks at the press conference that day, Yoo Byung-kyu, CEO of HDC Hyundai Development Company, responded, "We are not fully aware of the details of what happened in the National Assembly, but we believe the role of a company is to ensure customer safety, enhance corporate social value, and build trust. We will strive to fulfill this responsibility."

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