Head of Main Contractor Arrested for Shifting Blame in Gangnam Parking Lot Demolition Fatal Fall

The chief executive officer and the site manager of a main contractor have been arrested for shifting responsibility onto a subcontractor in connection with a fatal fall that occurred at a mechanical parking lot demolition site in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in 2024.

The Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Administration arrested the CEO of the parking equipment construction company, identified as A, and the general safety and health manager, identified as B, on the 25th of last month [June 25] on charges of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

This marks the first time a suspect has been arrested in the Seoul region for charges including the violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

On March 10, 2024, at a mechanical parking lot demolition site located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, parking pallets, lifts, and turntables were dismantled, creating a 15.7-meter-high opening. A worker fell through this opening and died while dismantling the lift gears.

To clearly investigate the specific causes and allocation of responsibility for the accident, the Seoul Regional Administration conducted simultaneous search and seizure operations at the headquarters of both the main contractor and the subcontractor.

Based on a meticulous analysis of the secured evidence and the disaster investigation report from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, the administration determined that the criminal charges against A and B were sufficiently substantiated.

Consequently, viewing the case as grave due to a fatal accident caused by the neglect of basic safety measures, and recognizing a high risk of the suspects attempting to destroy evidence and flee while shifting blame onto the subcontractor, the Seoul Regional Administration applied for arrest warrants.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has stated its policy to actively utilize coercive investigative measures such as search and seizures and arrests if accidents resulting from a failure to follow basic safety rules are repeated, even in serious accident cases that may not involve large-scale fatalities.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.