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Apgujeong Zone 5 'Illegal Filming Controversy' DL E&C Settles Issue by Submitting Apology

[비즈한국] It has been confirmed that DL E&C375500 has submitted an apology in the name of its CEO to the association regarding the unauthorized filming controversy that emerged during the bidding process for the Apgujeong Zone 5 reconstruction project in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The association decided to continue the bidding process after holding an emergency board meeting and legal review, while DL E&C followed up with an official letter detailing its plan to remove the individuals involved from their duties and take disciplinary action. The controversy, which broke out on the deadline for bids, appears to be settled without leading to the invalidation of the bid or further disruption.

According to the urban redevelopment industry, DL E&C sent an apology signed by CEO Park Sang-shin to the association on the 11th regarding the illegal filming controversy that occurred after the bid deadline for the Apgujeong Zone 5 contractor selection. Previously, Hyundai E&C000720 and DL E&C participated in the Apgujeong Zone 5 contractor bidding process that closed the day before (Related article: Apgujeong Zone 5 Competition Formed… Hyundai E&C and DL E&C Clash Again After 6 Years). After the bid closed that day, a DL E&C employee was caught secretly filming the site using a pen-type camera while the association and both companies were reviewing bid proposal documents.

In the apology, DL E&C stated, "We are sincerely sorry for causing concern to the association regarding the incident that occurred while reviewing documents submitted by both parties after the bid deadline. This matter took place during the process of checking documents that were to be disclosed in the future, and it is in no way a matter that infringes upon the fairness of the contractor selection bid or the voting rights of the association members. We ask for your understanding so that the bidding can proceed smoothly for the successful completion of the association's project. We will strictly adhere to the association's guidelines in the future bidding process."

DL E&C drew a line by characterizing the filming of the Apgujeong Zone 5 bid documents as an individual act of misconduct and promised stern measures. The company added, "The matter occurred due to an individual's excessive zeal for fair competition, and there was no intention to use it for unfair purposes or undermine the fairness of the bid. We take full responsibility for causing unnecessary controversy for the association, have immediately removed the individuals involved from their duties, and promise to take firm personnel actions after discussing the matter at the personnel committee."

With this, the controversy over the illegal filming of Apgujeong Zone 5 bid documents appears to be coming to an end. The association held an emergency board meeting on the evening of the 10th, when the filming occurred, to discuss countermeasures regarding the bidding process. As a result, they decided to proceed with the contractor selection process after receiving an apology and an action plan from DL E&C. It is reported that the decision took into account that the person responsible for DL E&C apologized after the incident, that no damage occurred as the filming was discovered mid-process, and that it is difficult to consider the event serious enough to warrant bid invalidation.

The Apgujeong Zone 5 reconstruction project is an urban development project that involves building 8 new apartment buildings with up to 68 floors (1,397 households). The construction cost amounts to 1.496 trillion won, or 12.4 million won per 3.3㎡. Out of the four zones in the Apgujeong apartment district (Zones 2, 3, 4, and 5) that have conducted contractor selection bidding so far, this is the only site where a competitive landscape has been formed. The association plans to hold a joint information session for members on the 16th of next month and a general meeting to select the contractor on the 30th of the same month.