On the 20th, the first trial judgment for those responsible for the collapse of the Gwangju Hwajeong I-Park will take place. It has been three years since the accident.
According to the Gwangju District Court on the 19th, the Criminal Division 11, presided over by Director General Ko Sang-young, will hold a sentencing hearing on the 20th for 20 defendants (including 3 corporations) charged with negligence leading to death in relation to the Hwajeong I-Park collapse.
During the closing arguments, the prosecution sought 10 years in prison for the site manager of HDC Hyundai Development Company and 7 years for Kwon Soon-ho, the then CEO of Hyundai Development Company (currently resigned), among a total of 10 defendants from the company, seeking sentences of 5 to 10 years or 2 years of imprisonment.
The prosecution also sought 5 to 10 years in prison for 4 individuals, including the representative of the subcontractor Gayun Construction and the site manager, and requested an 8-year sentence for 3 representatives from the supervising company, Gwangjang.
The prosecution recommended fines for the companies, specifically 1 billion won for HDC Hyundai Development Company, 700 million won for Gayun Construction, and 100 million won for Gwangjang.
On Jan. 11, 2022, at the construction site for the Hwajeong I-Park mixed-use apartment, part of the internal and external structures from the 39th floor to the ceiling of the 23rd floor of Building 201 collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 6 construction workers and injuries to 1.
The prosecution reported that the accident occurred due to the installation of structures (deck plates and concrete supports) affecting load without structural review and the unlawful removal of scaffolding from the three lower floors. Following demands from prospective residents for full demolition, the dismantling of the residential floors in the 8 apartment buildings at the accident site was completed, and rework began on the 2nd.