Partial Approval for Resumption Granted, But Restoration Delayed... Seoul City Says "It Will Be Completed Within 40 Hours"

Ministry of Employment and Labor Grants 'Conditional Approval' for Seosomun Overpass Work

Separate Review Required for Removal of Structural Elements Other than Aerial Scaffold

Seoul City Aims for "As Soon As Possible"... Ministry of Land Ta

Three days have passed since the Seosomun overpass construction accident, but recovery work continues to be delayed due to concerns over further collapses. Relevant agencies, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, are continuing discussions to determine when work can resume. The Seoul Metropolitan Government expects that once demolition resumes, the Gyeongui Line railway can be reopened within 40 hours.

On the 26th, at the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Seosomun overpass demolition site, the upper deck collapsed, resulting in three deaths and three injuries. Due to the risk of further collapse, recovery work has been delayed, causing disruptions to train operations including the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and KTX. 2026.05.27 Photo by Dongjoo Yoon

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on May 28, the Ministry of Employment and Labor gave 'conditional approval' for resuming the Seosomun overpass demolition work the previous afternoon. Only the removal of the aerial scaffolding, which serves as a temporary structure supporting workers, was conditionally approved, while the demolition of other structures such as the girders (beams supporting the upper deck) was excluded from the scope of work. Previously, the Seoul Metropolitan Government had submitted its work plan for demolition of remaining structures and railway resumption to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the ministry's review reportedly continued late into the night.

An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "At the Seosomun site, the remaining scaffolding sections may still be dangerous, so we granted conditional approval for resuming work in order to prevent secondary accidents," adding, "We will separately review a future plan for the demolition of the remaining sections, based on further structural assessments."

Since only partial approval was granted, the Seoul Metropolitan Government intends to decide on the timing for resuming construction after an on-site meeting with the ministry in the morning. However, there are concerns that leaving already unstable structures unattended for an extended period for safety reasons could actually increase the risks. The girders remaining at the site have lost their structural stability and could lead to secondary accidents in the event of external shocks or changes in weather conditions.

Choi Woncheol, lead professor at Yonsei University, said, "Even if it incurs additional costs, heavy equipment should be mobilized to reinforce the underside of the structure to ensure safety as demolition proceeds." He added, "The longer the resumption of work is delayed, the greater the inconvenience for citizens will become. It is necessary to bring together various experts to find ways to safely and rapidly carry out the demolition."

Lim Chungeun, Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, is briefing on the Seosomun Overpass collapse accident at Seoul City Hall on May 27, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Lim Chungeun, Head of the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, also said at a press briefing the previous day, "Girders 15 and 16 have collapsed, and there are additional concerns regarding the safety of the adjacent girders. To address this, the best approach is to proceed with demolition as quickly as possible." Lim explained that the 40-hour demolition plan consists of: 6 hours for aerial scaffolding removal; 24 hours for demolition of slab 9; and 10 hours for restoring the overhead lines and 8 hours for slab 8 demolition, with these two tasks being carried out simultaneously.

On this day, traffic controls continued around the accident site, resulting in ongoing congestion during commuting hours and continued disruptions to train operations. Service remains suspended on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line between Seoul Station and Susaek Station, as well as on the KTX between Haengsin Station and Seoul Station and between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station. According to KORAIL, the total number of train operations, including KTX, was tallied at 562, a decrease of 121 from the usual 683. The operation rate was 82.3%, a slight increase from the previous day's 80.8%. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it aims to complete railway facility restoration by May 29 and resume normal service with the first train on May 30. However, as the recovery work is being carried out with site safety as the top priority, if additional defects in structural safety are discovered, train disruptions could continue into the weekend.

Meanwhile, the specific cause of the accident is expected to be determined through a joint on-site forensic investigation by the police, the National Forensic Service, and other relevant agencies. The police have formed a dedicated investigation team consisting of about 50 members and have received construction-related documents, including the safety management plan, from the Seoul Metropolitan Government in the form of voluntary submission. The police investigation is expected to examine whether proper safety measures were implemented for workers during the safety inspection at the time of the accident.

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