| Title |
Improving Construction Quality Assurance and Liability Schemes through a Comparative Study of Korean and British Defect Management Systems |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.7.353 |
| Keywords |
BSA 2022; Defect Repair Bond; Extension of Time; Golden Thread; Construction Contract Management |
| Abstract |
This study examines the legal and contractual liability frameworks for ensuring building safety and quality amid the global supply chain crisis
and rising construction costs triggered by the 2026 United States-Iran conflict. Utilizing empirical data from Q1 2026, it provides a
comparative analysis of the 30-year retroactive liability under the United Kingdom Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) and South Korea’s
Defect Repair Bond system. The findings indicate that while the United Kingdom construction costs have increased by 13.5% due to
compliance levies reaching up to ￡20,000 per unit as well as financial burdens linked to administrative delays. At the same time, the Golden
Thread system of digital record keeping provides a strong mechanism for managing long-term risk and improving accountability. In contrast,
South Korea’s system enables relatively rapid repairs through a 3 percent bond deposit. However, it remains limited in its ability to address
long-term structural defects once the 10-year liability period has expired. Given these differences, the study suggests that South Korea’s
construction industry should move beyond reliance on financial deposit mechanisms. Instead, greater emphasis should be placed on the
assetization of safety. In addition, the integration of digital traceability systems such as BIM and CDE should be expanded, along with
extensions to liability periods for core structural elements. |