Collapse at Seosomun Overpass Demolition Site in Seoul Leaves 3 Dead, 3 Injured
A section of the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul's Seodaemun District collapsed during demolition, resulting in 3 deaths and 3 injuries. Train services were disrupted, and President Lee Jae-myung has ordered a thorough investigation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 26, 2026 at 18:51
- 🔍 Collected: May 26, 2026 at 19:01 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 31, 2026 at 19:51 (120h 49m after Collected)
A section of the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul's Seodaemun District collapsed this afternoon during demolition work, leaving three people dead and three injured. The incident has also caused the suspension of train services between Seoul Station and Sinchon Station. President Lee Jae-myung has ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
According to Yonhap News, a 2.9-centimeter subsidence was detected during the cutting of bridge panels early this morning. Personnel entered the site at 2:00 PM to conduct a safety inspection of the main girder, but the collapse occurred at approximately 2:33 PM.
Three people have died and three were injured. Two of the deceased, men in their 50s and 60s, are believed to be workers involved in the demolition project. One of the four initially rescued, a man in his 50s, had been trapped under a vehicle and was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, where he was later pronounced dead.
Fire authorities received a report from construction personnel and dispatched a rescue team six minutes later at 2:38 PM. At 2:49 PM, they issued a Level 1 emergency response order, deploying 62 personnel and 16 pieces of equipment. Police also dispatched approximately 30 officers to control surrounding traffic and prevent secondary accidents.
The accident caused a power outage in the overhead lines between Seoul Station and Sinchon Station, leading to the suspension of train services in that section. Trains between Seoul Station and Susaek Station have also ceased operations.
Built in 1966, the Seosomun Overpass had faced safety issues due to aging, including concrete debris falling onto the road in March 2019. Demolition work began last August and was originally scheduled to be completed by early June this year.
Regarding the accident, Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated that President Lee Jae-myung, upon receiving the report, instructed relevant agencies to do their utmost in managing the aftermath and treating the injured. President Lee expressed his condolences to the victims and ordered a strict investigation into the cause of the accident, as well as the development of comprehensive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
According to Yonhap News, a 2.9-centimeter subsidence was detected during the cutting of bridge panels early this morning. Personnel entered the site at 2:00 PM to conduct a safety inspection of the main girder, but the collapse occurred at approximately 2:33 PM.
Three people have died and three were injured. Two of the deceased, men in their 50s and 60s, are believed to be workers involved in the demolition project. One of the four initially rescued, a man in his 50s, had been trapped under a vehicle and was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, where he was later pronounced dead.
Fire authorities received a report from construction personnel and dispatched a rescue team six minutes later at 2:38 PM. At 2:49 PM, they issued a Level 1 emergency response order, deploying 62 personnel and 16 pieces of equipment. Police also dispatched approximately 30 officers to control surrounding traffic and prevent secondary accidents.
The accident caused a power outage in the overhead lines between Seoul Station and Sinchon Station, leading to the suspension of train services in that section. Trains between Seoul Station and Susaek Station have also ceased operations.
Built in 1966, the Seosomun Overpass had faced safety issues due to aging, including concrete debris falling onto the road in March 2019. Demolition work began last August and was originally scheduled to be completed by early June this year.
Regarding the accident, Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated that President Lee Jae-myung, upon receiving the report, instructed relevant agencies to do their utmost in managing the aftermath and treating the injured. President Lee expressed his condolences to the victims and ordered a strict investigation into the cause of the accident, as well as the development of comprehensive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
FAQ
When was the Seosomun Overpass built?
It was built in 1966.