Seoul overpass partially collapses, killing 3 and injuring 3 more

A section of the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul collapsed on Tuesday, killing three workers and injuring three others. The incident occurred during a safety inspection related to the overpass's planned demolition. The collapse sent a portion of the upper deck to the ground at the demolition site in the Migeun neighborhood of Seoul's Seodaemun District.

The deceased included a construction site management office chief, a senior engineering supervisory team director, and an outside safety inspector. The injured workers sustained serious head, rib, and back injuries and were transported to the hospital. The overpass connects to major areas of central Seoul, including City Hall and Chungcheong Road, and has road and railway traffic beneath it. Rail traffic on the Gyeongui-Jungang commuter line and KTX high-speed train lines was suspended following the collapse.

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Construction was halted after a step collapsed during the cutting of a slab at 2:30 this morning, and a safety inspection had been taking place since 2 pm.

The Seoul Metropolitan Infrastructure Headquarters had been working on the overpass's demolition since April 2025, with a target completion date of late July. The safety inspection was conducted after defects were found during the preparation process. A city official explained that construction halted when a step collapsed during cutting, prompting the inspection.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung issued directives for full-scale recovery efforts and treatment for the injured. The collapse also led to a pause in campaigning for the Seoul mayoral election, with several candidates visiting the accident scene.

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undertake full-scale recovery efforts and treatment for the injured.