President Lee orders increased construction site inspectors amid illegal subcontracting concerns

President Lee Jae-myung has directed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to bolster its on-site workforce dedicated to inspecting illegal subcontracting within the construction industry. The president highlighted that issues surrounding illegal subcontracting are significant contributors to major industrial accidents, corruption, and poor construction quality, emphasizing the need to eradicate such practices.

Kim Yun-deok, the minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, acknowledged the importance of strengthening field operations to combat illegal subcontracting. Currently, the ministry's inspection team consists of only two officials per regional office, totaling just 10 nationwide. This limited capacity hinders effective oversight, with AI-based investigations identifying approximately 1,500 sites requiring thorough inspection out of 120,000 this year, a task currently impossible with existing resources.

Kim Seok-ki, director of the ministry's construction policy bureau, requested an increase in personnel, comparing the need to forest or tax agencies that manage on-site inspections. In response, President Lee immediately instructed a review to expand the inspection team, suggesting the possibility of employing temporary staff for short-term, large-scale deployments. He anticipates that increased enforcement will significantly reduce illegal subcontracting.

Beyond construction, President Lee also called for tangible progress on the Saemangeum development project, which has been discussed for decades. He stressed the need for a pragmatic approach, involving necessary additions, bold removals, and strategic adjustments to attract meaningful investment. The ministry also outlined plans to accelerate housing supply, including shortening construction timelines for major projects like the third new cities and expanding housing development on underutilized non-residential land. Additionally, plans include introducing a new type of long-term, high-quality public rental housing and improving support systems for young adults facing challenges in asset formation.