The Ministry of Employment and Labor's Southern Seoul Office announced on May 29 that it is conducting a joint search with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at the headquarters of the construction company, Heung-Hwa Construction, related to the incident.
About 40 personnel, including labor inspectors and police, are involved in the search. Investigators aim to secure relevant documents, such as structural design plans and safety management plans, to determine whether the demolition work adhered to design standards and if appropriate safety measures were implemented to mitigate collapse risks.
On May 26, a structure collapsed at the Seosomun overpass demolition site, resulting in the deaths of three men: one in his sixties and two in their fifties. Three others were injured in the incident.
The Ministry plans to investigate the entire safety management system on-site, including the process of issuing work orders and the actual work methods employed. It will focus on identifying the causes of the fatalities.
Following the accident, the Ministry established a dedicated investigation team of 15 members, primarily consisting of labor inspectors, to begin the inquiry.
If the investigation reveals violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accident Punishment Act, the Ministry intends to hold responsible parties legally accountable.
A Ministry official stated, "Based on the materials secured through the search, we will closely examine the circumstances of the accident and the implementation of safety measures. We plan to actively utilize forced investigations, including searches and arrests, in cases where there are significant casualties or where basic safety protocols were not followed."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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