Won Hee-ryong, who posted a photo of NC Department Store Yatap Branch... "Ignored warning signs before the Sampoong collapse as well"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Wanyong] Won Heeryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has requested necessary measures such as 'suspension of business' from Seongnam City Hall regarding the ceiling crack accident at the NC Department Store Yatap Branch in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.

Minister Won, who is accompanying President Yoon Seok-yeol on his UAE visit, posted on his SNS early morning on the 17th, “I received an urgent report about the ceiling crack accident at the women's clothing store on the 2nd floor of NC Department Store near Yatap Station in Seongnam yesterday afternoon,” and pointed out, "They should have suspended business and controlled access until safety was confirmed, but they continued business in that condition."

A crack appeared on the ceiling of NC Department Store Yatap Branch, and the department store took reinforcement measures.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Minister Won criticized the department store, saying, "This is still evidence that safety indifference is widespread in our society," and "In the past, the Sampoong Department Store also had warning signs but ignored them and recklessly continued business, leading to a major accident."

He added, "It is better to overreact when it comes to safety," and informed, "I spoke with Shin Sang-jin, Mayor of Seongnam, and requested necessary measures."

The department store stated regarding the accident, “It appears to be ceiling sagging caused by moisture,” and plans to carry out ceiling gypsum board replacement work after closing, then decide whether to continue department store operations after internal review.

Meanwhile, similar ceiling collapse accidents occurred at Yatap NC Department Store in 2018, and a fire broke out in 2020.

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