Inspection is exposure too: the Seosomun overpass collapse
Three people died and three were injured in the 26 May 2026 collapse at the Seosomun overpass demolition site in Seoul. Inspectors and people below the work were among those affected.
People checking the site were affected
The city’s reported account identified inspection personnel and someone below the work among the casualties. An inspection visit does not remove exposure.
The engineering cause requires investigation rather than inference from the outcome.
Assess the current structural stage
A partly dismantled structure differs from the completed asset. Plan whether access is necessary, whether remote inspection is possible and what temporary support is needed.
HSE · 해체 중 구조 안정 / Structural stability
Check your workplace
- Is access safe at this exact demolition stage?
- Is the area below also controlled?
- Does a sequence change trigger a new access decision?
Manage above and below together
Coordinate falling-debris and collapse zones with roads, railway operations and vehicle waiting areas. A brief stop within the exclusion area still exposes a person.
Withdraw on unexpected change
Unexpected movement or changed connections call for stopping access and competent review. Following collapse, remaining members may still be unstable; response must account for secondary failure.
Putting it into practice
If unplanned removal has occurred before an inspection, hold access. Reassess the current structure and the area below before deciding how to inspect.
UK references support the principles, not a site-specific design.
Technical insight
Inspection access can create a new exposure
Approaching a structure to investigate a concern can expose inspectors to the same hazard. An inspection purpose does not establish that the area beneath or inside is safe.
Consider remote observation and exclusion first. Further access depends on assessment of the structure and inspection method, not simply the need for a closer photograph.
Korean safety resources
- KOSHA GUIDE C-47-2023 · Demolition safety — search the official catalogue
In the regular catalogue search, enter “해체공사” and select C-47-2023. This opens the official catalogue, not a direct PDF.
Sources
- 뉴시스 · 서소문 고가도로 붕괴 인명피해·수습대한민국 / South Korea
- HSE · 해체 중 구조 안정 / Structural stability영국 지침 / UK guidance
- HSE · 해체 작업 / Demolition영국 지침 / UK guidance