Seoul completes overpass demolition 79 hours after collapse kills 3

Seoul city crews finished emergency demolition of the Seosomun Overpass late Friday, 79 hours after a section of the 60-year-old structure collapsed during a routine safety inspection and killed three people, The Korea Times reported.

The accident, which also halted Gyeongui Line commuter rail service through central Seoul for days, came as the overpass was already under demolition over longstanding safety hazards — raising fresh questions about inspection protocols for aging urban structures mid-teardown.

The Seoul city government, in an official statement quoted by The Korea Times, confirmed the work was done: "The emergency demolition work conducted on the upper structure of the Seosomun Overpass from midnight has been completed as of 9:40 p.m."

The Seosomun Overpass, built in 1966, had been flagged as a safety hazard and targeted for full removal since August 2025. Tuesday's fatal partial collapse occurred while workers were conducting an on-site safety inspection as part of that ongoing project, according to The Korea Times.

Three people were killed and three others injured in the accident. South Korea's labor ministry approved a resumption of demolition work Thursday evening, clearing the way for crews to push through the remaining structure overnight.

Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) said state railway authorities planned overnight repair work to restore Gyeongui Line service, targeting a partial resumption by 5 a.m. Saturday. The Korea Times reported authorities forecast an 84.8 percent rail operation rate for Saturday, with high-speed KTX service expected to reach 85.9 percent by Sunday as part of a phased return of all services.

City and railway officials said recovery operations were continuing with the priority of restoring full transit service to the Seoul metropolitan area.