The first trial verdict has been delivered for those responsible for the collapse of the construction site of the Hwajeong I-Park apartment in Gwangju's Seo-gu in 2022. This comes more than three years after the incident occurred.
The court found both HDC Hyundai Development Company, the primary contractor, and Kahyun Construction, the subcontractor, directly responsible for the accident and sentenced related personnel, including site managers, to up to four years in prison. However, executives were found not directly responsible and were acquitted.
On the 20th, the Gwangju District Court's Criminal Division 11 (Director General Ko Sang-young) conducted sentencing for 20 defendants, including HDC Hyundai Development Company, subcontractors, and supervisory firms, who were indicted on charges of negligent homicide and other offenses. The court sentenced two site managers from HDC Hyundai Development Company and Kahyun Construction to four years in prison each.
Additionally, two defendants from HDC Hyundai Development Company and one from Kahyun Construction, who were responsible for dismantling the lower level scaffolding, were sentenced to two to three years in prison. However, the court did not detain these defendants to safeguard their right to appeal.
Two defendants from HDC Hyundai Development Company and Kahyun Construction, who were involved in the installation of deck plates and concrete supports, were each sentenced to two years and one year and six months, with a three-year probation. The overall manager of construction sections 1 and 2 from HDC Hyundai Development Company was also sentenced to two years and six months in prison with three years of probation.
Three defendants from the supervisory company, Gwangjang, were sentenced to one year and six months to three years in prison with three to five years of probation. Fines of 500 million won, 300 million won, and 100 million won were imposed on corporate entities HDC Hyundai Development Company, Kahyun Construction, and Gwangjang, respectively.
Three individuals, including Kwon Soon-ho, the then-representative of HDC Hyundai Development Company (now retired), received acquittals. Three individuals from HDC Hyundai Development Company, who were charged for inadequate concrete quality, were also acquitted. The ruling stated that while there is abstract supervisory responsibility, there is no direct duty to ensure the negligence of subordinate employees.
The court acknowledged two of the three causes of the accident presented by the prosecution: dismantling of the scaffolding and the installation of deck plates and concrete supports without structural review. However, they acquitted the defendants related to concrete quality and strength due to lack of evidence.
The court noted, 'A significant incident occurred resulting in seven casualties, causing economic damage to the pre-sold purchasers and considerable harm to nearby commercial residents.' However, it stated that a non-punishment request was submitted following an agreement with the victims, and since this incident occurred before the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, responsibility cannot be imposed on the executives.
At the construction site of the Hwajeong I-Park apartment in Gwangju's Seo-gu in 2022, during the pouring of concrete, the top floor, the 39th floor, began to collapse, resulting in 16 floors falling and causing the deaths of six workers and injuries to one.