The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 29th that, to prevent an increase in ground subsidence accidents during the rainy season, it will conduct special inspections of 100 urban excavation sites from the 30th of this month through the end of June.
This inspection will involve the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), local governments, the Korea Authority of Land & Infrastructure Safety (KALIS), the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), and private experts. The targets are urban construction sites with excavation depths of 10 meters or more and railroad and urban rail construction sites. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) selected inspection areas by considering factors such as excavation progress rates and site locations among projects that have completed consultations on underground safety assessment reports.
In this inspection, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to check whether construction sites are managed safely even in heavy rain by examining the status of temporary retaining wall construction, compliance with instrumentation management such as groundwater levels, the ground conditions near sites, and any damage to storm and sewage pipes.
In particular, to prevent accidents similar to the ground subsidence caused by poor compaction that occurred in Busan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to additionally conduct ground surveys near large construction sites where backfilling was completed within the past year to check road conditions and whether there are underground voids.
Any abnormal signs found through the inspection will be promptly notified to local governments for restoration measures, and if violations such as failure to implement the contents of the underground safety assessment consultation are confirmed, the ministry plans to respond strictly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Kim Seok-gi, director general for construction policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), said, "As risk factors around construction sites can grow during the rainy season, we will examine urban excavation sites more thoroughly and swiftly remedy shortcomings so the public can feel assured."