Flawed safety checks precede deadly overpass collapse

A catastrophic collapse at the Seosomun overpass demolition site in Seoul's Seodaemun District on May 26 killed three people and injured three others. The victims included the site manager, the supervision team leader, and a structural engineer. The incident occurred during a second safety inspection, just hours after initial signs of structural distress had been identified.

According to Seoul city and fire authorities, workers discovered a 2.9-centimeter sag in the overpass slab around 1:30 a.m. Work was halted at 2:30 a.m. Despite a first site inspection between 10:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. by safety assessment firms, the overpass collapsed around 2 p.m. during a subsequent inspection, raising questions about the adequacy of the safety checks.

The Seosomun overpass, built in 1966, had a history of structural issues, including concrete detachment in 2019, a floor slab collapse in 2021, and beam damage in 2024. Demolition work began in September 2025 with a target completion date of May 2026. At the time of the collapse, the demolition was over 80% complete. Reports indicate that seven workers were on the slab just before the collapse, despite the earlier detection of anomalies.

Further complicating the situation, it was revealed that a train had passed beneath the overpass shortly before the collapse. Critics question why Seoul city did not request a halt to rail traffic after the initial signs of danger were noted. The police have formed a special investigation team to examine potential charges of professional negligence leading to death or injury and violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects train services to be fully restored by the morning of May 30.