Prosecutors have indicted 11 individuals and four companies in connection with the collapse of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Library construction site, an incident that resulted in the deaths of four workers. The indictments come approximately seven months after the tragic event.
Investigation Findings
The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office announced on July 6 that the accused face charges including professional negligence and violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Among those indicted, four individuals, including the representative of a steel fabrication and installation subcontractor, the site supervisor for the steel installation, and the site supervisor for the main construction company, have been arrested and detained.
The collapse occurred on December 11 of the previous year around 1:58 PM at the construction site for the library, which was being built on the former Sangmu Civic Center site in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. The structural failure led to the deaths of four workers who were trapped in the debris.
Initial observations at the scene revealed that the steel support structure and beams had snapped cleanly, raising immediate suspicions of faulty construction practices.
Root Cause: Overlapping Negligence
The investigation concluded that the collapse was caused by a prolonged period of overlapping negligence among various parties involved in the construction process. This included supervisors, construction companies, and subcontractors, whose oversights contributed to the fatal accident.
According to the police’s interim investigation results released around mid-June, the steel construction company had initially planned to fabricate and install 48-meter-long steel beams as a complete product at the factory. However, the investigation revealed that the company instead transported two 24-meter sections to the site and connected them through on-site welding.
Furthermore, unauthorized welding was used in this process. While a post-collapse inspection identified numerous instances of substandard welding, construction proceeded without comprehensive checks. The welding procedures themselves were also reportedly altered without following proper protocols, and some work was re-done illegally.
Systemic Failures in Safety and Quality
The investigation uncovered widespread issues with substandard construction, including welding methods that deviated from design documents, the use of inferior steel materials, and inadequate management of workers entering and exiting the site during concrete pouring. These failures in site management were identified as significant contributing factors.
The systems for managing safety and quality were also found to be falsified.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Actions
Prosecutors are cooperating closely with ongoing investigations by the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency and the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office to ensure a thorough response.
Nearly 30 individuals connected to the accident, including four public officials from the Jeonnam-Gwangju Regional Government (formerly Gwangju City), are currently under further investigation.
A prosecutor stated, “We have confirmed that this was a preventable tragedy if basic duties had been fulfilled.” The prosecution emphasized that given the gravity of the incident and the multiple fatalities, they will strive to ensure that those responsible face severe penalties commensurate with their crimes.
