Significant safety violations and illegal subcontracting practices have been uncovered at the Shin Ansan Line construction site, where unqualified contractors were found performing tunnel work. A special safety inspection conducted after the Gwangmyeong tunnel collapse revealed a total of 160 defects across all construction sections.
On September 30, Representative Yoo Sang-beom of the ruling People Power Party reported that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducted a special safety inspection of all nine sections of the Shin Ansan Line following the announcement of the cause of the Gwangmyeong 5-2 section tunnel collapse in April.
The inspection identified 106 defects in construction practices and 54 in safety management, totaling 160 issues. Notably, some sites were found to have engaged in illegal subcontracting practices that violate the Construction Industry Basic Act. In section 6, work was subcontracted to unqualified individuals without the necessary licenses, and these contractors were directly involved in tunnel construction.
In the 5-2 section, where the Gwangmyeong tunnel collapse occurred, instances of 'unregistered subcontracting' were confirmed, leading to a push for business suspension. Additionally, it was found that the required construction technicians were not present on-site, and the construction log was not properly communicated. Other sections, including 2, 1-1, and 1-2, also reported violations related to illegal subcontracting and failure to notify subcontracting obligations.
Numerous cases were identified where basic safety management procedures to prevent tunnel collapses were not followed. Inadequately qualified personnel conducted rock face observations, and there were instances where ground conditions worsened during excavation without undergoing proper rock assessments and design changes.
Some sites altered the sequence of tunnel support construction without structural safety reviews, and there were reports of leaks due to poor waterproofing. Confirming ground conditions and installing support structures are critical safety management procedures to prevent rock falls and ground subsidence in deep tunnel construction.
Accidents have also been frequent at the Shin Ansan Line project. Since construction began in 2021, there have been 100 casualties, including five fatalities and 95 injuries. All five deceased were South Korean nationals, while the injured included 91 South Koreans and four foreigners.
Particularly, from 2023 to the present, five sections, including 5-1, 4-1, 5-2, 4-2, and 3-2, have experienced fatal accidents, leading to work stoppages. The Gwangmyeong 5-2 section has been halted for 490 days due to the aftermath of the tunnel collapse, investigations, and complete redesigns, causing delays in the overall project schedule.
Representative Yoo stated, "The deep underground railway construction passing through urban areas poses risks where even minor defects can lead to major disasters such as road collapses. We must strictly address illegal subcontracting practices, including unqualified construction and the absence of technical personnel, and reassess the structural safety of all sections based on the 160 identified defects."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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