[비즈한국] On the 11th, a portion of the construction site for the Gwangju Representative Library in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, collapsed. The accident left four workers missing, three of whom were found dead. On the morning of the 13th at 11:20 AM, the third day of the search, the body of the final missing person was recovered.
The accident occurred around 2:00 PM on December 11 at the construction site of the Representative Library on the former Sangmu Incinerator site in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. While concrete was being poured, part of the structure collapsed, trapping four workers. All victims were confirmed to be Korean, and it was determined that a total of 97 people were working on-site at the time of the accident.
Immediately following the accident, rescue authorities mobilized approximately 200 personnel and 27 pieces of equipment to conduct search and rescue operations. However, the operation faced difficulties due to poor conditions, including the risk of falling debris and concerns over additional structural collapses. To ensure safety, authorities temporarily suspended rescue efforts once on the 12th to conduct structural reinforcement work.
The Gwangju Representative Library is part of the "Sangmu Complex Cultural Community Town" project currently under construction on a 10,200㎡ site (the former Sangmu Incinerator), with a total floor area of 11,286㎡ spanning two basement levels and two floors above ground.
With the search operation concluded, the police investigation is expected to gain momentum. The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a dedicated 36-member investigation team. The police plan to determine the exact cause of the accident and thoroughly investigate liability, including whether safety protocols were followed during construction. On the afternoon of the 13th, police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor began a search and seizure operation at the construction firm's offices.