Prosecutors Indict 7 More Including HDC's Kwon Soon-ho and Ha Won-gi Over 'Collapse Disaster'

On the 19th, officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police conducted a search and seizure at the headquarters of HDC Hyundai Development Company in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in connection with the collapse accident at Hwajeong I-Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Scene from the day. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Six individuals, including former Hyundai Development Company President Kwon Soon-ho, who is accused of causing the collapse accident at Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park, along with one corporation, have been brought to trial.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jang Yoon-young) announced on the 1st that they have indicted former President Kwon Soon-ho (currently Senior Advisor), former CEO and Construction Headquarters Director Ha (currently Senior Consultant), three site-related personnel, one subcontractor personnel, and one corporation without detention on charges including professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

The former CEOs are accused of causing the accident that resulted in six deaths by assigning fewer quality managers on site than legally required and failing to properly supervise the implementation of the safety management plan.

Although a total of six quality managers were appointed for Hwajeong I-Park Complexes 1 and 2 (eight buildings), investigations revealed that only one person was solely responsible, while the other five concurrently handled other tasks such as process management.

Combined with inadequate safety inspections, unauthorized structural changes, removal of supporting props, and poor concrete quality and curing led to severe consequences.

With this additional indictment by the prosecution, a total of 17 individuals related to the construction company and four corporations (Hyundai Development Company, Gahyeon, Architectural Office Gwangjang, etc.) will face trial.

A representative from the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office stated, "We hope this case will serve as a wake-up call to the construction industry’s improper practices, leading to improved construction quality and secured safety."

They added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that not only the site-related personnel already indicted and on trial but also the headquarters of the construction company receive appropriately severe sentences."

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