The Democratic Party of Korea held a news conference on the missing rebar at GTX Samseong Station and raised questions about the responsibility of People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon.
Ko Min-jung, who serves as Deputy Minister of the Oh Se-hoon Judgment Headquarters in Democratic Party of Korea Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o's campaign, held a news conference on the 20th and strongly criticized the Seoul Metropolitan Government, alleging an organized cover-up related to the "missing rebar in the GTX-A Samseong Station section."
Ko said, "They say the missing rebar was recognized around March, but that is perjury," adding, "Hyundai Engineering & Construction reported the initial fact of the missing rebar to the Seoul Metropolitan Government in November." She continued, "From January to April, when Mayor Oh resigned, there were a total of 12 inspection meetings," and said, "If they really didn't know, that would be a 'vegetative mayor.'"
Regarding Urban Infrastructure Headquarters chief Lim Chun-geun, she said, "It is only natural that he received a handover after being appointed on Dec. 31 last year," adding, "The remark that he first recognized it in March constitutes false testimony."
She also raised her voice on safety inspections and future measures. Ko said, "They say 422 cracks have occurred, and given that this is a large-scale complex center where multiple lines pass through and there is also an underground shopping mall, it should naturally have been checked multiple times," adding, "Common sense says construction should have been halted when suspicions were raised."
She continued, "They say Hyundai Engineering & Construction has drawn up a reinforcement plan, but how can we trust the very parties who left out the rebar?" adding, "We need to find remedies together with objective outside experts."
Lastly, Ko said, "The biggest Achilles' heel for Mayor Oh was safety," adding, "It is extremely fortunate this was found before a large-scale accident."
Oh Se-hoon responded immediately to the criticism. At a debate hosted by the Kwanhun Club at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, that day, Oh made it clear in response to related questions that reports had not reached him.
Oh said, "There are more than a thousand business sites in Seoul managed from the perspective of the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters," explaining, "That is why I did not receive a report."
Oh also rebutted the criticism that construction was pushed ahead when suspicions were raised. Oh said, "We discussed with experts whether to halt construction immediately," adding, "We concluded to continue the work."
He also outlined future reinforcement plans. Oh said, "Hyundai Engineering & Construction and the Korea Rail Network Authority are discussing a plan to reinforce the entire section by attaching steel plates," adding, "We can carry out reinforcement together while proceeding with the GTX construction, and it is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks."
Lastly, Oh counterattacked that the Democratic Party's offensive is election-season negative campaigning. Oh said, "Installing subway platform screen doors and mandating construction site CCTV are all safety measures of the Oh Se-hoon Seoul City Hall," adding, "The Democratic Party is using the people's 'safety' as political fodder to attack me."