Prosecutors Appeal Suspended Sentences for Those Responsible in 'Gwangju Hakdong Disaster' Accident

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The prosecution has appealed the first trial verdict regarding those responsible for the building collapse accident in Hakdong 4 District, Dong-gu, Gwangju, which resulted in the deaths of nine people last year.

On the 13th, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office submitted an appeal to the court against seven demolition construction-related personnel and two corporations (HDC Hyundai Development Company and Baeksul Enterprise) indicted on charges including professional negligence resulting in death.

Previously, the prosecution sought maximum sentences of 7 years and 6 months imprisonment for these individuals and fines up to 50 million won for three corporations charged with violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act. However, on the 7th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court sentenced the site manager of the demolition subcontractor Hansol Enterprise to 2 years and 6 months imprisonment, the representative of the re-subcontractor and excavator operator to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment, and the demolition supervisor to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment. Additionally, three individuals including the site manager of Hyundai Development Company and the site manager of the asbestos demolition subcontractor received suspended prison sentences and suspended jail terms respectively. The corporations were also fined. The court judged that the cause of the accident was the failure to follow the demolition plan which required sequential demolition from the upper floors and the lack of reinforcement of the lower structure, but held that only the safety measures obligation stipulated in the Industrial Safety and Health Act could be imposed on the primary contractor, Hyundai Development Company.

The prosecution argued that the sentencing for the seven defendants was inappropriate due to improper sentencing, factual errors, and legal misinterpretations, and that the fines imposed on Hyundai Development Company and Baeksul Construction corporations were also unjust. Regarding the excessive water spraying, which the court acquitted due to inability to prove absorption amounts, the prosecution insisted it should be considered guilty, citing that the amount of water sprayed on the day of the accident was two to three times higher than usual.

Mr. Kang and others were brought to trial on charges of causing a building collapse accident during demolition work in Hakdong 4 District, Gwangju, on June 9 last year, which resulted in the deaths or injuries of 17 city bus passengers passing nearby (9 deaths and 8 injuries).

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