Police Launch Full Investigation into 'LH Sliced Apartment'... Also Examining Former Officials' Allegations

The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the rebar omission incident at apartment complexes commissioned by Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).

A National Police Agency investigation headquarters official stated at a press briefing on the 7th, "We have received investigation requests from Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) concerning a total of 15 complexes and 74 companies, and plan to assign these cases to the respective city and provincial police agencies." The distribution of investigations by complex is as follows: Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency with 4 cases, the most; Chungnam Police Agency with 3 cases; Gyeonggi Southern and Gyeongnam Police Agencies with 2 cases each; and Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju, and Chungbuk Police Agencies with 1 case each.

The allegations against these companies, as requested by LH, include violations of the Construction Technology Promotion Act, the Building Act, and the Housing Act. A significant number of these companies employ former LH executives and staff who were rehired after retirement, raising suspicions of preferential treatment during the bidding and evaluation processes. However, LH did not request an investigation into the preferential treatment allegations.

Earlier, on the 2nd, LH President Lee Han-jun convened regional headquarters chiefs nationwide at the LH Seoul Headquarters to hold the "Anti-Cartel Fair Construction Innovation Plan Meeting" and announced the plan to request an investigation. President Lee stated, "Companies suspected of preferential treatment will be referred for investigation, and legal actions such as complaints and civil lawsuits will be taken against companies involved in poor construction at 15 complexes."

Additionally, LH plans to claim damages from the companies if violations of relevant laws are confirmed through the police investigation. LH also intends to introduce a "one-strike-out" system to expel companies that cause poor construction from participating in projects commissioned by LH.

The police will conduct a preliminary investigation (internal inquiry) by receiving evidence such as investigation results on rebar omissions from LH regional headquarters. If LH does not cooperate, the police are considering forced investigations such as search and seizure. Furthermore, regardless of LH's investigation requests, the police plan to thoroughly examine the preferential treatment allegations.

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