Gwangju Library Collapse Caused by Faulty Welding, Poor Management: Police

A fatal structural collapse at the Gwangju representative library construction site last December, which claimed the lives of four workers, has been attributed to a combination of factors including faulty welding and inadequate management. The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency announced an interim investigation result, stating that 40 individuals involved in construction, supervision, and client oversight have been booked. Among them, 11 key responsible parties have been sent for prosecution, with four already in custody.

The accident occurred on December 11, when a structure gave way during concrete pouring for the library's rooftop. Expert assessments from the National Forensic Service and the National Disaster and Safety Research Institute indicated that structural failures due to poor welding at critical joints and insufficient quality control led to the collapse. While the initial design was deemed sound, the construction company altered the detailed construction drawings without proper procedures. Instead of fabricating the large steel structures in one piece, they were divided and welded on-site, with evidence of improper welding techniques, including the insertion of rebar to fill gaps, and missing or incomplete welds. Furthermore, the welders lacked the necessary qualifications.

Concerns were raised earlier when a structural engineer identified welding defects in eight out of sixteen joints during non-destructive testing and recommended a full inspection. However, the construction company disregarded this warning. Both the supervision team and the client, the Gwangju Metropolitan City Construction Headquarters, were aware of the issue but failed to take appropriate action. Police concluded that while the load on the structure at the time of the accident did not exceed the design capacity, the critical welding defects were the primary cause of the collapse. The investigation also uncovered evidence of illegal subcontracting and a lack of safety protocols, such as placing workers below the pouring area and failing to control access to the work zone.

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This accident occurred due to a combination of factors, including poor welding at major joints, inadequate quality control, construction deviating from the design, and negligence in management and supervision by the contractors and client.