Seoul overpass collapse: Police raid city govt, 7 sites over 3 deaths
Synopsis
Three days after the Seosomun Overpass partially collapsed mid-demolition — killing three people — South Korean police descended on seven sites simultaneously, deploying 33 investigators and 20 labour ministry officials. With President Lee Jae Myung demanding stern punishment and the labour ministry vowing strict accountability, Seoul's city government now faces both a criminal probe and the pressure of completing the demolition by Saturday morning.
Key Takeaways
South Korean police raided seven locations on 29 May , including the Seoul city government's infrastructure headquarters, over the Seosomun Overpass collapse.
The collapse on Tuesday killed 3 people and injured 3 others during an on-site safety inspection.
33 police investigators and 20 labour ministry officials took part in the simultaneous raids.
President Lee Jae Myung called for a prompt probe and stern punishment for those responsible.
The overpass, built in 1966 , had been under demolition since August due to safety concerns.
The labour ministry approved resumption of demolition on Thursday evening ; completion targeted by early Saturday .
South Korean police on Friday, 29 May raided the offices of the Seoul city government, an engineering company, and several other entities connected to the demolition of the Seosomun Overpass in western Seoul, days after a section of the structure partially collapsed, killing three people and injuring three others. The raids mark a significant escalation in the official response to one of South Korea's most visible infrastructure failures in recent months.
Scale of the Raids
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed that searches and seizures were carried out simultaneously at seven locations, including the city government's infrastructure headquarters and contractors directly involved in the demolition work. A total of 33 police investigators and 20 workplace safety officials from the labour ministry participated in the coordinated operation, according to police statements.
What Triggered the Collapse
The partial collapse occurred on Tuesday afternoon during an on-site safety inspection, hours after demolition work had been halted in the morning following signs of a slight structural shift. Police conducted an immediate inspection of the site and secured security camera footage recorded at the time of the accident. The overpass, originally built in 1966, had been undergoing demolition since August over pre-existing safety concerns and was scheduled to be fully torn down by next month, according to reports.
Government and Presidential Response
On Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung called for a prompt investigation and stern punishment for those responsible for recent safety-related incidents, explicitly referencing the overpass collapse. The Seoul city government said in a statement that it was cooperating fully with the police investigation and pledged efforts to determine the precise cause of the accident. Separately, the labour ministry said it planned to verify whether proper safety protocols were followed at the site, vowing to 'strictly' pursue accountability if any violation of workplace safety laws was found.
Demolition to Resume
The labour ministry approved the city government's plan to resume demolition of the Seosomun Overpass on Thursday evening, with the city targeting completion of the remaining demolition work by early Saturday morning. The decision to press ahead underscores the urgency of clearing the structurally compromised structure, even as investigators work to establish who bears legal responsibility for the collapse. This comes amid broader scrutiny in South Korea over construction and demolition safety standards following a string of infrastructure incidents in recent years.
Point of View
53 officials, presidential intervention within 72 hours — signal that South Korean authorities are under acute public pressure after a collapse that was, in a grim irony, discovered during a safety inspection. The deeper question is systemic: the overpass had been flagged for safety concerns long enough to be scheduled for demolition, yet the demolition itself became the hazard. If investigators find that warning signs on the morning of the collapse were not acted upon swiftly enough, the accountability chain will stretch well beyond the contractors on site. South Korea's recurring infrastructure incidents suggest that the gap between safety regulation and on-ground enforcement remains dangerously wide.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul?
A section of the Seosomun Overpass in western Seoul partially collapsed on Tuesday during an on-site safety inspection, killing three people and injuring three others. The overpass had been undergoing demolition since August due to pre-existing safety concerns.
Why did South Korean police raid the Seoul city government?
Police raided the Seoul city government's infrastructure headquarters and related contractor offices on 29 May to secure evidence and determine the exact cause of the overpass collapse and identify those responsible. The raids involved 33 investigators and 20 labour ministry officials across seven locations.
What did President Lee Jae Myung say about the collapse?
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for a prompt investigation and stern punishment for those responsible for recent safety-related incidents, including the Seosomun Overpass collapse.
Will demolition of the overpass continue after the collapse?
Yes. The labour ministry approved the city government's plan to resume demolition on Thursday evening, with the city targeting completion of the work by early Saturday morning.
How old was the Seosomun Overpass?
The Seosomun Overpass was built in 1966, making it nearly six decades old. It had been earmarked for demolition over safety concerns and was expected to be fully torn down by next month before the accident occurred.
