Deck Demolished and Debris Underway... "First Gyeongui Line Train to Operate on the 30th"

On-Site at the Resumed Seosomun Demolition Project
Excavators and Dump Trucks Mobilized for Debris Removal
Review Pending for S8 and Pier Demolition... Expected to Take Several Days

On the morning of the 29th, excavation and dump trucks were mobilized for debris cleanup work at the accident site on the Seosomun overpass in Seoul. Photo by Kim Bokyung

As the Seoul Metropolitan Government resumed demolition work on the Seosomun Overpass, full-scale debris removal operations began on the morning of May 29, 2026. According to city officials, the use of a crushing demolition method, which prioritizes worker safety and operational efficiency, helped shorten the demolition period. The first train service on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line is expected to resume normal operations on May 30.

Around 9 a.m. on the same day, coordinated debris removal efforts were underway at the accident site at the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul. Excavators were collecting concrete fragments and rebar that had fallen beneath the overpass. The collected waste was loaded onto large dump trucks and transported to external disposal facilities. To minimize dust generated during this process, water trucks were mobilized to spray water, and safety fences were installed while guides were stationed nearby to control pedestrian traffic.

Choi Jinwoo, Director of Civil Engineering at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, told The Asia Business Daily, "We are currently deploying six excavators and eleven dump trucks for waste removal. If we complete the removal by 3 p.m., electrical work to restore train operations on the tracks will follow." Restoration of the railway's electrical systems by the rail authorities is expected to be finished around 1 a.m. on May 30. Director Choi also stated, "We anticipate that, as originally planned, the first Gyeongui Line train on the morning of May 30 will be able to operate."

In the early hours of the day, four excavators were used to apply pressure from the outside and crush the structure in a single operation, utilizing the "crushing demolition method." A Seoul city official explained, "The crushing demolition method is safe because workers do not have to directly enter the demolition area," adding, "It is a widely used method for quickly and safely dismantling buildings." Compared to the sequential demolition method, which involves cutting the upper structures one by one and lifting them with a crane, this approach reduced the expected demolition time from 40 hours to 15 hours. With the resumption of work, subway service between Hongdae Entrance Station and Euljiro Entrance Station on Line 2, which had been suspended, was normalized from around 6 a.m. Seoul Metro carried out a safety inspection, taking into account the presence of an underground tunnel beneath the demolition site.

Even after train operations are normalized, traffic and pedestrian restrictions in the surrounding area are expected to continue for some time. The previous day, the Ministry of Employment and Labor granted partial approval for the resumption of work only on the demolition of the ninth slab (S9), while demolition of the remaining eighth slab (S8) and three piers will require a separate review process. Director Choi stated, "For the demolition of S8 and the three piers, we will need to undergo additional review by the Ministry of Labor," estimating that "this process will take about ten days."

The aftermath of the accident and the demolition work have dealt a direct blow to local businesses. With access restricted, heavy equipment noise, and airborne dust, customer foot traffic has dropped significantly, leading merchants to report losses from declining sales. Mr. Choi, who operates a restaurant in the area, lamented, "With pedestrian access restricted, yesterday's sales fell to about half of the usual amount," adding, "Today, I couldn't even open the store. Complaints to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seodaemun District have been of no use."

Police have begun a compulsory investigation into the accident. On the morning of May 29, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crimes Investigation Unit dispatched investigators to seven locations, including the headquarters and on-site offices of the Seoul City Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, the main contractor, and subcontractors, to conduct searches and seizures. A total of 53 personnel were involved in the investigation, including 33 investigators from the Major Crimes Unit and 20 labor inspectors from the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office. A police official stated, "We are conducting searches and seizures to quickly determine the cause of the accident," adding, "We will thoroughly analyze the collected materials to identify the cause and responsibility for the accident and conduct a rigorous investigation."

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