"Is My Home Safe?" Water Gushing into Concrete for Apartment Construction... LH President: "We Will Inspect and Take Action" [2026 Parliamentary Audit]

Rep. Yoon Jongo Raises Issue of Water Being Added to Ready-Mixed Concrete
LH: "We Will Take Thorough Action if Problems Are Found"

Lee Seonghun, president of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), said during a parliamentary audit on October 12 that he would "thoroughly check whether there have been any violations of laws or quality defects" in response to Progressive Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-o's criticism of the practice of adding water to ready-mixed concrete immediately after it leaves the plant. He added, "If we find problems involving construction companies, construction supervisors, ready-mixed concrete companies or others, we will take thorough action to fully address the concerns."

During the audit that day, Yoon showed a video of water being added to a mixer truck immediately after it left a batching plant and raised concerns about the discreet practice of adding water to ready-mixed concrete. Water is added immediately after dispatch for convenience in work or transportation, among other reasons, but the practice is strictly prohibited because it directly affects building safety. "Adding water arbitrarily to ready-mixed concrete that has been precisely mixed and dispatched can reduce its strength and threaten building safety," Yoon said. "This 'watered-down concrete' is being delivered to LH apartment construction sites."

Lee Seonghun, president of Korea Land and Housing Corporation, answers lawmakers’ questions during a parliamentary audit of Korea Housing Corporation and other organizations at the National Assembly on October 12, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Yoon also released a recording indicating that, although quality inspections are conducted to prevent such illegal practices, the vehicles are selected in advance and the inspections are merely formal. The inspections are described as random spot checks, but in reality, they are "a rigged game." Since tight construction budgets and schedules have been cited as contributing factors behind these illegal practices, Yoon urged LH to consider measures to ensure adequate budgets and construction periods.

Yoon also raised the issue of leftover ready-mixed concrete, which should be discarded after pouring, being redistributed for use as building material or at small-scale construction sites, such as those for villas and studio apartments. Kim Seok-gi, director general of construction policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "The default is to dispose of leftover ready-mixed concrete. To use it at another site, it must meet that site's construction specifications. We will thoroughly examine areas where these requirements are not being managed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.