Seoul to Mandate Video Documentation for Road Excavations... Steps Up Safety Management of Underground Installations

Mandatory from October
Submission Required Before Final Completion

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on August 25 that, starting in October, it will require the submission of video records for all road excavation works involving electricity, telecommunications, and city gas.

According to the city, approximately 35,000 road excavation projects involving the installation of facilities are approved annually in Seoul alone. When excavating roads, existing underground facilities such as water and sewage pipes must either be avoided or kept at a safe distance during construction. This is because improper installation or construction too close to these facilities can damage sewage pipes and reduce drainage functionality.

As a result, starting in October, all projects applying for road excavation permits will be required to manage video records. When applying for a permit, applicants must submit video footage and have it reviewed for any issues before final completion, in accordance with the "Road Excavation Permit Agreement Conditions" set by water and sewage management agencies.

Applicants must film the overall excavation site and the status of water and sewage pipe installations immediately after excavation. In addition, before backfilling to restore the road, they must submit footage documenting the condition of the pipes, including any damage, breakage, or separation.

To manage the entire process from permit application to project completion, the city will also upgrade the "Road Excavation Restoration System" to allow the uploading of videos to the online platform. Until the system upgrade is completed next year, the city plans to coordinate with water and sewage management agencies to ensure that procedures such as video submission before final completion and the issuance of compliance confirmation documents can be carried out.

Kim Seungwon, Director of Construction Technology Policy at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "We expect this to address blind spots in the safety management of underground installations and improve construction quality. We will continue to make multifaceted efforts to ensure the safety of urban infrastructure closely related to citizens' daily lives."

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