Seoul's Seosomun Overpass to be Emergency Demolished, Completion Expected by 30th

A partial collapse of the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul, South Korea, on the 26th resulted in 3 deaths and 3 injuries. Approximately two days after the accident, emergency demolition work will begin at midnight tomorrow, with completion expected by 5 AM on the 30th, allowing for the restoration of the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. The Ministry of Employment and Labor held a review committee meeting today and conditionally approved the demolition plan submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Seoul officials stated that the work will take 29 hours, and the suspended sections of the Gyeongui-Jungang Line will resume service from the first train on the 30th. The city explained that the emergency demolition is intended to remove remaining structures, ensure citizen safety, and restore traffic on Seosomun-ro and the railway line. According to the Korea Railroad Corporation, train operation rates were only 80.8% yesterday and 82.3% today due to the accident. To prevent debris from falling, inflatable sound barriers will be installed, and 2cm-thick steel plates covered with over 2 meters of sand will be placed over the tracks to absorb impact. The government has vowed a thorough investigation and strict punishment for those responsible. President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need to eradicate the 'bad habit of prioritizing money and efficiency over safety.'