It is expected to take about 40 hours to restore the Gyeongui Line railway, which was suspended after a collapse at the demolition site of the Seosomun overpass in Seoul.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 27th announced plans to handle the accident at the Seosomun overpass demolition site, resume railway operations, and support victims.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, crews are demolishing remaining bridge structures and restoring the railway at the site. The city submitted a work plan to the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) on the morning of the same day, and plans to proceed with restoration work after interagency meetings and a review to resume construction.
Based on the work plan, the city estimated it would take six hours to remove the suspended scaffolding, 24 hours to demolish the deck (slab) section, 10 hours to restore the catenary, and eight hours to demolish section S8. It projected about 40 hours from the start of work until the Gyeongui Line railway reopens.
Regarding victim support, the city has assigned dedicated officials to bereaved families and will assist with funeral procedures, disaster relief funds, and counseling. For the injured, it will provide medical expenses, condolence payments, and counseling.
Meanwhile, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections who is currently suspended from duty, paid his respects at the victims' memorial altars at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. the same day. Chong Won-o, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seoul mayor, is also scheduled to visit the victims' memorial altar at around 5 p.m. the same day to pay respects.
The accident occurred the previous day when a structure collapsed at the Seosomun overpass demolition site. Three people were killed, and three others, including workers conducting a safety inspection at the scene, were injured. Built in 1966, the overpass had received a "safety grade D" rating indicating a high risk of collapse, and demolition had been underway since August last year.