178 Road and Sidewalk Sinking Concerns Found... Safety Management Requested from Each Local Government

The government investigated roads and sidewalks where ground subsidence (land sinking) is a concern and discovered a total of 178 underground voids. Accordingly, the government informed the local governments of the affected areas and requested proactive safety management.

The scene of a ground subsidence (sinkhole) measuring 3 meters wide, 2 meters long, and 1 meter deep that occurred on a road near Jongno 5-ga Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in 2022. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that, to proactively prevent ground subsidence accidents last year, ground surveys were conducted over a total of 1,665 km (524 locations) of roads and sidewalks in heavy rainfall areas and places with high risk of ground subsidence, resulting in the discovery of 178 underground voids.

The ground survey was conducted using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) equipment to explore up to 3 meters below the surface to identify underground voids that could lead to accidents. The participation of specialized personnel was expanded to enhance efficiency and reliability.

The annual ground survey has been conducted since the ground subsidence accident in Jamsil, Seoul, in August 2014, after which the ‘Ground Subsidence Prevention Measures’ were established. Over the past nine years, a total of 7,886 km of roads and sidewalks have been surveyed.

Going forward, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to further expand the scope of ground surveys. This year, the survey will cover approximately 2,200 km, a 32% increase compared to the previous year, and by 2026, the scope will be expanded to more than 4,200 km annually.

If the ground survey plan proceeds without delay, by 2026, surveys will be completed on approximately 18,000 km, which is about 15% of all road sections.

Additionally, the Ministry plans to establish the ‘2nd National Underground Safety Management Basic Plan’ in December this year, aiming to modernize and smartly manage underground safety over the next five years and strengthen the capabilities of local governments.

Furthermore, the Ministry intends to strengthen management by adding underground facilities such as high-pressure gas and chemical transport pipelines installed for industrial use, as well as hazardous material manufacturing, storage, and handling sites, to the scope of underground facilities under the ‘Underground Safety Act.’

Kim Tae-o, Director of Technical Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, “Underground safety management is an important policy that can prevent potential risk accidents,” and added, “We will work with local governments to protect public safety, which is the highest national priority.”

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