Won Hee-ryong: "Whether Left or Right, the Construction Cartel Is the Problem"

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, identified the 'construction sector interest cartel' as the fundamental cause of recent safety accidents such as the collapse of underground parking lots in newly built apartments and the 'plastic tap water' issue in apartments, declaring that it will be eradicated.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 30th, Minister Won held an 'Emergency Safety Inspection Meeting for Public Housing' at the Seoul Regional Headquarters of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to discuss issues such as the water pipes in the LH apartment complex in the Eungye District of Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, where over 13,000 households have moved in, and the omission of rebar in apartments ordered nationwide by LH.

Minister Won stated, "Problems arising in the basic necessities of life such as drinking water and fundamental safety facilities cannot be covered up with any excuse, and this is a matter that requires a heavy sense of responsibility." He added, "It is shameful that serious problems have occurred in LH apartments, which should be fully trusted by the public." He further declared, "As the supervising ministry of LH and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport responsible for overseeing public housing projects, I will personally bear the heavy responsibility and handle this issue according to principles."

Minister Won instructed LH, "Take the strictest disciplinary actions against those responsible for purchasing and supervising the defective (water pipe) materials in the Siheung Eungye District, as well as the designers and supervisors responsible for the omission of shear reinforcement (rebar) in the flat slab structure design and construction, and immediately request investigations and file charges."

In the Siheung Eungye District apartment complex, the internal coating of the water pipes has been peeling off, causing black foreign substances to appear in the tap water since residents moved in shortly after 2017. Although LH promised to replace the water pipes, residents filed a public interest audit request with the Board of Audit and Inspection after allegations surfaced that the water pipe supplier made illicit solicitations to LH officials during the material contract process.

Additionally, following the collapse accident of the underground parking lot in the Geomdan apartment complex, a full investigation confirmed that 15 LH-ordered complexes using flat slab structures in their underground parking lots were missing the required rebar. Minister Won emphasized, "Taking this incident as an opportunity, we will eradicate the interest cartel that has accumulated abnormally in construction sites for decades, and more recently over the past 6 to 7 years, and fundamentally cut off any negligence in work."

He warned, "Starting with LH, let them stand on the judgment platform of experts and the public," and predicted strict measures, adding, "If problems are found within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we are even considering measures to report ourselves."

Regarding the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway project, he stated that the ruling and opposition parties will form a route verification committee to decide the route before resuming the project. In a Q&A session with reporters, he said, "Since Justice Party lawmaker Sim Sang-jung has already proposed that the ruling and opposition parties jointly form a route verification committee, the People Power Party's floor leader will lead the formation of an expert verification committee." He added, "There is no need to go to a state audit; experts can be summoned to the standing committee seven days in advance, and perjury during witness oath-taking can be punished."

Minister Won said, "Since the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway has already become politicized, to move beyond this, it is necessary to rely on expert science, uncover the truth through the standing committee, and gather the will of the Yangpyeong residents who will benefit from the expressway as much as possible." He concluded, "I believe we must fulfill our responsibilities through such a process."

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