The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on the 26th that it formed a dedicated investigation team in connection with the collapse at the Seosomun overpass demolition site in Seodaemun District.
Baek Seung-eon, head of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit (senior superintendent), will serve as the Head of Team, and more than 50 personnel from three teams of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, the forensic team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the criminal investigation team of the Seodaemun Police Station will be deployed.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said, "The dedicated investigation team will promptly launch an investigation and, in cooperation with related ministries including the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), will work to clearly determine the cause of the accident."
At about 2:33 p.m. that day, a report that a structure had collapsed at the demolition site was filed with the fire authorities. Three people were killed and three were injured in the accident.
All the casualties were identified as construction-related personnel. They had gone to the site for a safety inspection after a height difference occurred during slab-cutting work early that morning and the work was halted, and then were involved in the accident.
The Seosomun overpass received a "D grade" in a detailed safety diagnosis 59 years after completion and had been under demolition since Sep. last year. The demolition was 89% complete, with work scheduled to be finished next month.