The main section of the Seosomun overpass in Seoul was demolished on the 29th. It came three days after casualties occurred in a collapse. Gyeongui Line trains, which were halted by the accident, will resume service starting on the 30th.
The Seoul city government said it "completed all emergency demolition work on the upper structure of the Seosomun overpass, which began at 12 a.m., at about 9:40 p.m."
The demolished structures include the upper slab (deck) and the girders (beams supporting the deck) that held it up. Columns with a low risk of collapse will be removed within 10 days.
Demolition began at 12 a.m. on the 29th. At about 4:43 a.m. the same day, slab No. 9—through which the rail line passes—and its supporting structures were dismantled. Debris, sand, and steel plates were all cleared at about 6 p.m. that day. The last remaining slab No. 8 was also demolished at about 9:40 p.m.
Korea National Railway will work on the electrified tracks through early morning to resume Gyeongui Line service. The work is expected to finish at about 5 a.m. on the 30th, and the Gyeongui Line is expected to run from the first train.
The Seosomun overpass collapsed on the afternoon of the 26th during an on-site safety inspection. Three construction site personnel were killed and three public officials were injured. Following the accident, the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) ordered a work stoppage on demolition. After implementing safety measures, the Seoul city government applied to the ministry to resume work and received conditional approval on the 28th.