Site Manager of Substandard Embankment Construction in 'Osong Disaster' Sent to Trial

The site manager has been arrested and indicted in connection with the poor-quality temporary embankment construction identified as the cause of the flooding accident at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, which occurred last July.

On the 28th, the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office announced that site manager A, who constructed the Miho River temporary embankment, was arrested and indicted on charges including professional negligence resulting in death and injury, instigation of evidence forgery, and instigation of using forged evidence. This is the second indictment following the supervision team leader who was previously prosecuted in relation to this disaster.

A is accused of causing the flooding accident by demolishing the existing embankment without obtaining permission from the competent authority, the Geumgang Environment Agency, to allow vehicle access for the Mihocheon Bridge expansion project, and constructing a temporary embankment 1.14 meters lower than the legal standard and 3.3 meters lower than the existing embankment.

The temporary embankment was constructed without any construction plans or drawings. Two days after the disaster, A is also accused of forging the signature of a retired supervision manager to fabricate the existence of a construction plan.

The temporary embankment construction began only after entering the rainy season to expedite the completion of the Mihocheon Bridge expansion project. On the day of the disaster, soil was belatedly piled up to form the embankment, but it failed to prevent the flooding.

The Osong underpass disaster occurred on July 15 when the Miho River temporary embankment burst, causing river water to flow into the nearby Gungpyeong 2 Underpass, flooding 17 vehicles including city buses. Fourteen people died and eleven were injured in this accident.

Following a request for investigation from the Office for Government Policy Coordination regarding responsibility for the disaster, the prosecution formed an investigation headquarters, conducted raids, and summoned about 200 related personnel for investigation, covering seven institutions and 36 individuals including Chungbuk Province, Cheongju City, and the Happy City Administration.

It is known that the prosecution is considering reapplying for arrest warrants for two construction company employees whose warrants were previously dismissed during the pre-arrest hearing, as well as three officials from the Administrative City Construction Agency, the project owner.

The embankment under Mihocheon Bridge on Miho River in Cheongju, washed away by heavy rain on the morning of July 15. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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