'61 Suicides by Jumping Since Opening' Incheon Bridge... Experiment Begins to Install Prevention Facilities

An experiment to install accident prevention facilities on the Incheon Bridge, where 61 people have died by jumping since its opening in 2009, is set to begin.

According to the office of Heo Jong-sik (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gap) of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 25th, the Incheon Bridge operator plans to conduct a wind tunnel experiment from next month until December, spending a budget of 100 million won to check the extent of bridge vibrations caused by wind.

This experiment aims to assess whether the safety of the bridge can be secured when suicide prevention facilities are installed.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recently requested the Incheon Bridge side to conduct wind tunnel experiments and bridge structure reviews to determine whether to install the facilities. Subsequent measures will be taken based on the experiment results.

The Incheon Bridge operator believes that installing suicide prevention facilities on a 6 km section (12 km both directions) of the total 21.4 km bridge will prevent safety accidents.

Incheon Bridge

Earlier, in November last year, the Incheon Bridge side installed 1,500 drums on the shoulders of a 4 km (8 km both directions) section including the cable-stayed bridge, connecting bridge, and viaduct, and increased patrol vehicle rounds from 24 to 26 times a day to strengthen suicide prevention measures.

However, it was pointed out that vehicles can still stop on shoulders without drums, and people can approach the bridge railing through gaps between the drums, reducing effectiveness.

In fact, on the 22nd, one person fell to their death from the Incheon Bridge, making six deaths this year alone. Since its opening in 2009 until recently, a total of 61 people have died by jumping, and 13 have been rescued.

The Incheon Bridge is the longest domestic bridge connecting Yeongjongdo, where Incheon International Airport is located, and Songdo International City.

On the 24th, Representative Heo held a meeting with Eo Myeong-so, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stating, "No more tragic incidents should occur on the Incheon Bridge, which serves as a gateway to Korea," and urged, "Since the Incheon Bridge operator has decided to conduct the wind tunnel experiment, the government, as the owner of the Incheon Bridge, should also reflect the project budget for installing suicide prevention facilities."

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Heo Jong-sik

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.