Firefighters conduct a rescue operation at the site of a fatal expressway construction site accident in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, Feb. 25. Yonhap

Hyundai Engineering on Tuesday issued an apology over a fatal expressway construction site accident in Anseong and pledged to fully cooperate with authorities in an investigation into its cause.

A bridge collapsed at an expressway construction site in Anseong, some 65 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 9:50 a.m., killing four workers and injuring six others, authorities said.

Firefighters conduct a search operation at the site of a fatal expressway construction site accident in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, Feb. 25. Yonhap

"We sincerely apologize for the tragic loss of lives and injuries caused by the accident at our construction site," Hyundai Engineering said in a statement.

The company added, "We are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure a swift site recovery and a thorough investigation into the exact cause of the accident."

The accident occurred less than a year after a massive defect scandal at Hyundai Engineering's newly built apartment complex in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, in April 2024.

At the time, the company faced heavy criticism after more than 50,000 cases of defects were reported, including tilting exterior walls.

Following the construction quality controversy, the latest accident exposes serious safety concerns surrounding the company. The builder could face potential suspension of business following the investigation.

"When casualties occur during construction, the negative impact on a company's image is particularly severe. In future project bids, this issue could act as a major weakness in winning orders," a construction industry observer said. (Yonhap)