The controversy surrounding the omission of rebar in the GTX-A complex transfer center near Samsung Station in Gangnam, Seoul, has emerged as a critical safety issue in the lead-up to the June 3 mayoral election.
Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party's candidate for mayor of Seoul, criticized the administration of Oh Se-hoon, stating it symbolizes poor construction practices and a lack of safety awareness in the city. In response, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate, and the Seoul city government argued that the city's comprehensive CCTV recording system allowed for the early detection and proactive response to construction errors.
The debate has also reached the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, where discussions have centered on whether there was a cover-up or adherence to procedures, escalating the issue into a political battleground.
The controversy began when it was revealed that some columns in the underground level five of the GTX-A Samsung Station section of the Yeongdong-daero development lacked the required rebar as per design specifications. The construction company, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, discovered this during a review of the blueprints last October and reported it to the city.
Seoul City does not deny the omission of rebar but maintains that while there was a construction error, structural safety was not compromised. According to structural engineers, the columns can still bear sufficient loads, and by applying reinforcement methods using steel plates and fireproof coatings, safety can be enhanced beyond the original design standards.
Jung Won-o: Major Flaws Should Have Halted Construction
Jung has characterized the situation not merely as a construction error but as a failure of Seoul's safety management. After visiting the construction site on May 17, he stated, "This is a clear case of poor construction," criticizing that significant flaws were allowed to progress to the third underground level without completing safety reinforcements.He particularly questioned the decision to continue construction despite the major flaws, asserting, "Common sense dictates that when significant flaws occur, construction should be halted entirely for objective verification and safety reinforcements before resuming." He raised concerns that the work was pushed forward to meet deadlines.
Jung also demanded that Oh disclose when he was first informed of the issue and what actions were taken, directly challenging the reporting structure and accountability of the mayor's office.
Jung's team is framing the issue within the broader context of responses to heavy rain, snow, and sinkhole problems, suggesting it reflects a structural issue within the entire safety system of Seoul.
Oh Se-hoon: Safety is a Scientific System, Not Just a Slogan
Oh has firmly rebutted Jung's and the Democratic Party's claims of safety negligence. On May 20, he stated on social media, "Jung Won-o and the Democratic Party are shooting arrows of 'safety negligence' at me and the city. I want to ask who has truly been negligent about safety."He emphasized the importance of why Hyundai Engineering & Construction reported the rebar omission themselves, questioning, "Is it common for a primary contractor to voluntarily report the mistakes of a subcontractor on a large construction site?"
Oh noted that he had instructed that all major construction processes be recorded with CCTV and body cameras to prevent repeated accidents at construction sites. He claimed that the city's comprehensive CCTV recording and preservation system was what led to the self-reporting by the construction company.
Since 2022, Seoul City has implemented a 'process recording management system' for public projects exceeding 10 billion won, ensuring that key construction scenes are recorded on video to allow for immediate tracking of issues when they arise.
Oh stated, "It is a tightly woven net that cannot be hidden or covered up, and safety is not just a slogan but a scientific system." He added that the city began reinforcement measures immediately after becoming aware of the issue in November and reported a total of 51 cases related to rebar omission and safety measures in official documents over the following six months.
He criticized the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Railroad Corporation for being irresponsible, stating, "After receiving dozens of documents over the past six months, they now question why they were not informed sooner."
Seoul City: Six Months of Reporting and Expert Verification
Seoul City has also countered claims of concealment, stating on May 21 that it reported the rebar omission to the Korea Railroad Corporation three times in official documents between November of last year and January of this year. Additionally, the city reported a total of 51 cases of progress and safety measures in six subsequent reports.Furthermore, the city conducted external expert advisory meetings and site inspections until March of this year, confirming through an emergency safety inspection led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that there were no structural anomalies.
A city official stated, "We immediately initiated safety inspections and expert consultations upon discovering the construction error, and we comprehensively reviewed the impact on structural stability and maintenance when applying reinforcement methods," asserting that this is a case where the safety system functioned properly.
National Assembly Clash: Concealment vs. Procedure
The controversy also reached a head during a recent inquiry by the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on May 20.People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok asked Acting Mayor Kim Seong-bo, "Did you not explicitly report the rebar omission 51 times through six regular reports from November 2025 to April 2026? Is it concealment if the receiving agency claims it did not see the contents?"
Acting Mayor Kim responded, "There was never any intention to conceal, nor could there be. We conducted 19 expert meetings and site inspections. The key issue is whether proper follow-up actions were taken."
In contrast, Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-gun criticized, "If you were already aware of the rebar omission, why was it not mentioned during the site inspections with external experts? If that is not concealment, what is?"
Yoon referenced the minutes from a joint inspection meeting held earlier this year, stating, "While discussing the causes of cracks and repair methods, the omission of rebar was not mentioned at all," which he condemned.
In response, Acting Mayor Kim acknowledged that while it was not discussed at that meeting, procedures were ongoing.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-deok offered a somewhat unfavorable interpretation for Seoul City, stating, "In addition to monthly progress reports, if significant issues arise that could impact the structure or major processes, separate situation reports are required by the corporation's regulations. It is difficult to view Seoul City as having fulfilled its reporting obligations."
Seoul City countered that these regulations are internal standards of the Korea Railroad Corporation and that there is no separate reporting obligation under the contract.
The essence of this controversy lies not merely in the rebar omission itself but in evaluating whether the city's response after discovering the issue met the safety standards expected by citizens. Whether this dispute, which has surfaced in the final stretch of the election, will be remembered as a case of a functioning safety system or as a negligent response to safety remains to be seen, pending further investigation and public judgment.