The government will launch a sweeping safety inspection of more than 3,000 construction sites nationwide ahead of the approaching monsoon season.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 3rd it will conduct a joint "rainy season high-intensity safety inspection" with related agencies for about two months from the 4th to July 31.
A total of about 900 personnel from 12 agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), five regional land management offices, the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), and the Korea National Railway, will take part in the inspection.
The inspection will target more than 3,000 construction sites nationwide that are vulnerable to torrential rain or strong winds. By project size, small sites with construction costs under 5 billion won account for 57%, more than half, followed by 5 billion to 30 billion won (26%), and 30 billion won or more (17%). By use, infrastructure (SOC) sites such as roads and railways are the most common at 51%, followed by apartments (26%) and general buildings (23%).
Taking into account summer climate characteristics, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to focus on risks such as slope washouts due to ground weakening and the collapse of retaining walls and embankments. In particular, measures to prevent tower crane overturning due to strong winds and improper concrete pouring during rain have also been included as key inspection items.
To enhance the effectiveness of the safety inspection, high-risk processes such as installing earth-retaining structures and excavation will be examined jointly with outside private experts. In addition, special inspections will be conducted in parallel on other sites run by builders that had a fatal accident in the first quarter of this year, excavation sites 10 meters or deeper in urban areas, and sites ordered by public institutions.
The government set a policy to respond sternly if violations such as shoddy construction or negligence in safety management are uncovered during this inspection. An official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "For any site found in violation, we will, without exception, impose demerit points and fines, request investigations by judicial authorities, and take strong action in accordance with relevant laws."