On the 28th, Hyundai Engineering, the construction company related to the collapse of the Seoul-Sejong Expressway that resulted in 10 casualties, stated that it is prioritizing support for bereaved families and cooperating fully to identify the cause of the accident.
Joo Woo-jung, CEO of Hyundai Engineering, held a media briefing at the company's headquarters in the Gye-dong area of Jongno, Seoul, on the morning of the same day regarding the highway bridge construction site collapse. He noted, "We are mobilizing all our capabilities to support victims and ensure a thorough response to the accident."
Before announcing a statement of apology, Joo bowed and apologized, saying, "We will faithfully engage in all investigations and establish measures to ensure such accidents do not occur again and thoroughly implement them."
Joo noted, "At the time of the accident, Hyundai Engineering representatives met with the families of the deceased and injured," adding, "We will subsequently meet individually with families to provide ongoing support."
Support for family living expenses began with an initial payment of 3 million won per household. This measure aims to relieve the financial burden on families caring for injured relatives, allowing the funds to be used for transportation and living expenses. He explained that the decision for additional support will be made based on the situation through discussions.
In a subsequent question-and-answer session, when asked about the cause of the accident, he requested patience for the investigation results. Joo stated, "We are currently waiting for the results from the investigating agency, and it is not appropriate to mention a probable cause at this time."
In response to questions regarding safety measures for on-site workers, a representative from Hyundai Engineering said, "Every morning before work, we conduct safety meetings, check all safety equipment on-site, and complete risk assessments before commencing work." He added, "Safety helmets, belts, safety hooks, and fall prevention nets were all perfectly installed."
Regarding private compensation for damages, he stated, "Although no cases have been reported yet, we expect there may have been impacts on nearby residents due to the accident, and since road control has been implemented, we plan to contact local residents to accurately assess the situation and ensure sufficient compensation."
Joo noted, "This accident will prompt us to establish a more thorough safety management system, and we will do our best to ensure that bereaved families and the injured receive necessary support," adding, "Once the investigation is concluded, we will promptly begin restoration of the road and surrounding facilities as needed."
Earlier, at around 9:49 a.m. on the 25th, a collapse occurred at the Seoul-Sejong Expressway construction site in Sanpyeong-ri, Seowoon-myeon, Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, involving a girder structure of the bridge deck. The accident resulted in 4 fatalities and 6 injuries, totaling 10 casualties.