SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - The South Korean government has ordered two major construction firms, SK Ecoplant and Gyeryong Construction, to suspend operations for six months following a bridge collapse last year that killed a worker and injured several others in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the suspension will take effect from Dec. 1 through May 31 next year. The ministry said it was intended to hold the companies accountable for safety failures during the project.
The accident occurred on April 30 last year at a highway construction site when a girder collapsed during installation, killing one worker, injuring five others, and wounding a nearby civilian.
Police later charged six people, including the site manager from SK Ecoplant, as well as two subcontractors, with professional negligence resulting in death and injury.
The project had been a joint venture between SK Ecoplant and Gyeryong Construction, a mid-sized contractor based in Daejeon.
Both companies have contested the government’s decision. SK Ecoplant said its construction quality met required standards and denied direct responsibility for the collapse. The firm said it plans to present evidence in court to demonstrate compliance with safety regulations. Gyeryong Construction also said it would seek an injunction and file a lawsuit to overturn the government's decision.
* This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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