Seoul Activates Disaster Response Headquarters for Seo So-mun Overpass Collapse... "All-Out Efforts for Recovery"

One-on-One Support for Bereaved Families and the Injured
Measures to Prevent Further Collapse and Minimize Traffic Disruptions

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has activated the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and begun on-site response following the collapse accident at the Seo So-mun overpass demolition site.

On the 26th, at the demolition site of the Seosomun Overpass in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the bridge deck collapsed, and firefighters are conducting rescue operations. May 26, 2026. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

On the 26th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced, "We are working with relevant agencies such as the fire department, police, and the Korea Railroad Corporation to manage the situation on-site while also implementing safety measures to prevent any further collapses. The exact cause of the accident and the scale of the damage will be verified in cooperation with the relevant agencies."

At 4:22 p.m. on this day, the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters was activated on the instructions of Kim Seong-bo, Acting Mayor of Seoul. Kim is serving as the head of the headquarters, which is organized into a total of 13 task forces.

The Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is carrying out accident management, support for the bereaved families and the injured, traffic and railway operation responses, and on-site safety management in cooperation with relevant agencies.

The accident occurred at approximately 2:33 p.m. when an elevated structure under demolition collapsed. The structure fell onto a truck and people below, resulting in three deaths and three injuries.

Two people died at the scene, while one person was transported to a hospital but ultimately passed away. The deceased have been identified as the head supervisor of the construction inspection team, the on-site manager, and an external expert related to the project. Two Seoul city officials and one staff member from the Seodaemun-gu community center were also injured and are receiving treatment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to provide financial support for the livelihood stability of the bereaved families according to the proper procedures. Dedicated Seoul city officials will be assigned to each family to assist with funeral arrangements and daily living stability, and psychological counseling will be offered through the Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Support Center and the Community Mental Health Welfare Center. Injured individuals will also receive financial support for daily living stability and access to welfare services and psychological counseling.

Acting Mayor Kim stated, "I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident and extend my heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families, the injured, and their loved ones. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will focus all its efforts, in cooperation with relevant agencies, on securing on-site safety, supporting the victims, and thoroughly managing and recovering from the accident." He added, "We will also do our utmost to determine the exact cause and establish measures to prevent recurrence."

To minimize inconvenience caused by traffic control measures during the accident response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will increase bus dispatches during commuting hours on 53 city bus routes that pass in front of the National Police Agency.

After news of the accident broke, Acting Mayor Kim left a parliamentary Administrative and Safety Committee hearing where he was testifying as a witness and moved to the accident site. Major candidates for the Seoul mayoral election also suspended their campaign activities and visited the site to check on the accident response.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.