Seoul City Conducts Emergency Inspection of Yeongdong-daero Complex Over Missing Rebar... "Comprehensive Investigation and Strict Accountability"

Acting Mayor Kim Sungbo Visits Site to Assess Safety Management

Orders Thorough Additional Inspections of All Structures

The Seoul Metropolitan Government conducted an emergency safety inspection at the Yeongdong-daero complex development site, where signs of substandard construction due to missing rebar were detected, and ordered a comprehensive, high-intensity inspection of all structures at the site.

Sungbo Kim (center), Acting Mayor of Seoul, visited the Yeongdong-daero underground space complex development site (Yeongdong-daero Section 3) on the 16th to inspect the status of structural safety management and reinforcement measures. Seoul City.

The city announced on the 17th that Kim Sungbo, Acting Mayor of Seoul (Second Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs), made an unannounced visit and inspection on the afternoon of the 16th to the “Yeongdong-daero Underground Complex Development Site (Yeongdong-daero Section 3),” part of the metropolitan express railway (GTX)-A line, where the rebar omission error occurred.

During his visit, Acting Mayor Kim focused on reviewing the specific safety management status of the fifth basement level structure, where the rebar omission was confirmed, as well as the progress of the ongoing reinforcement works. He also received briefings from contractors and supervisory teams regarding the current status of the site, measures to enhance structural safety, and detailed plans for further reinforcement, followed by in-depth discussions on subsequent developments.

Immediately after the inspection, Acting Mayor Kim issued strong directives to those involved. He stated, “Given the serious concerns directly related to public safety, carry out a thorough inspection and additional detailed safety checks not only on the problematic areas but throughout all structures, leaving no room for neglect.”

He also made clear the city’s zero-tolerance policy toward construction and supervision failures. Emphasizing the need for accountability, Kim said, “We must thoroughly investigate and hold strictly responsible those aspects where inadequate site quality management and supervision contributed to the deficiencies,” and reiterated, “Even in upcoming reinforcement works, prioritize quality and safety management above all else.”

In response to this substandard construction incident, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to enhance the structural strength beyond the original design specifications through supplementary construction to ensure complete safety. At the same time, the city intends to streamline the reinforcement process to minimize inconvenience to citizens and ensure that the future opening schedule of the core transportation route, the GTX-A line, remains unaffected.

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