Government Urgently Allocates 2.1 Billion Won in Disaster and Safety Grants to Four E-Grade Aged Bridges

Government Conducts Joint Inspection of D and E Rated Aging Bridges
Safety Measures Needed at 57 Sites, but Funding Remains Lacking
Measures Established to Prevent Recurrence of Seosomun Overpass Collapse

The government has decided to immediately provide 2.1 billion won in Disaster and Safety Management Special Grants for four aged bridges that received an E safety rating, the lowest grade.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on July 31 that, following a joint inspection of aged bridges nationwide, it has decided to urgently support the elimination of risks at these deteriorated bridges by allocating Disaster and Safety Management Special Grants.

On May 26th, three people died and three others were injured when the upper deck collapsed at the demolition site of the Seosomun overpass in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. 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 Dongju Yoon

The joint inspection was carried out from June 23 to July 10 and involved the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, local governments, and the Korea Infrastructure Safety and Technology Corporation. The inspection targeted aging public bridges across the country that received D or E safety ratings.

The inspection results revealed that a total of 57 sites—53 rated D and 4 rated E—require safety measures but currently do not have the necessary funding. Accordingly, the government decided to immediately provide 2.1 billion won in Disaster and Safety Management Special Grants to the four E-grade bridges requiring urgent action. Support for D-grade bridges is also under review in consultation with local governments.

Additionally, as part of measures to prevent a recurrence of the Seosomun overpass collapse, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will strengthen regulations to ensure accident prevention during the process of safety management and demolition work.

First, in the procurement stage, project evaluation for selecting contractors will be enhanced to ensure that only construction companies with experience in similar demolition projects are chosen. In the design phase, bridge demolitions will be designated for design safety review to proactively assess risks. During construction, the work will be classified as subject to a safety management plan and must be carried out only after a safety assessment by a qualified structural engineer.

If any abnormal signs are detected during the work, operations will be immediately suspended. Structural changes will be monitored over a sufficient period of time, and advanced equipment such as drones and CCTV will be used to verify safety before resuming work.

The “Seosomun Overpass Recurrence Prevention Task Force,” which includes the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, will continue to develop improvements to the overall safety management system for demolition projects.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Ho-joong Yoon stated, “Through this joint inspection, we are able to swiftly support bridges that had been left at risk due to lack of funding, and, building on the lessons of the Seosomun overpass accident, we will fundamentally improve the safety management system for all demolition work involving aged structures.”

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