Police Complete 'Seosomun Overpass Collapse' Search and Seizure After 11 Hours

The police investigating the collapse of the Seosomun Overpass completed a search and seizure of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and related parties after 11 hours on May 29.

According to the police, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Special Investigation Unit and the Ministry of Employment and Labor executed search and seizure warrants from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at seven locations, including the Seoul Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, which ordered the demolition project, as well as the headquarters of the main contractor and subcontractors, and the field office.

Police officials are entering the container at the demolition site while conducting a search and seizure at the field office in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 29th, related to the collapse accident of Seosomun overpass. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

A total of 33 police officers and 20 labor inspectors from the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office were deployed for the search and seizure on this day.

The police focused their search and seizure at the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters on the civil engineering department, which was responsible for the demolition project.

However, it was reported that there was some confusion in locating the necessary materials at the site because the staff member in charge of leading the project was seriously injured in the accident and was absent.

The investigators assigned to Heunghwa Construction, the main contractor, focused on the general affairs department, civil engineering department, and executive offices.

Regarding plans for additional searches, a police official stated, "We cannot disclose this as it is related to the ongoing investigation."

The search and seizure warrants executed by the police on this day specified three charges: occupational negligence resulting in death or injury, violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Both the main contractor and the subcontractors have been booked as suspects for all three charges.

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