Busan Transportation Corporation to Take Preemptive Action Against Sinkholes... Comprehensive Measures at Urban Rail Construction Sites

Busan Transportation Corporation (President Lee Byungjin) announced on the 10th that it has established effective safety management reinforcement measures and is taking multifaceted actions to prevent ground subsidence accidents around urban railway construction sites.

With an annual average of 166 ground subsidence accidents occurring nationwide over the past five years, concerns about sinkholes persist. In response, the corporation has set up a comprehensive response system rather than taking fragmented measures. Focusing on four key areas?▲strengthening pre-diagnosis and technical response ▲establishing joint inspection and cooperation systems ▲expanding on-site monitoring and resident participation ▲spreading a responsible safety culture?the corporation is intensively promoting safety measures.

First, in the Saebyeok-ro section of Sasang-gu, where the risk of sinkholes is high, a ground subsidence risk assessment is being conducted, analyzing ground stability through drilling surveys and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) exploration. In addition, vertical cutoff grouting is being additionally installed at approximately 1,100 locations, and reinforcement work to prevent ground loosening is scheduled for completion within April.

On-site, 58 additional monitoring devices, including groundwater level gauges and surface subsidence meters, have been installed, with a specialized monitoring company stationed for continuous monitoring. Furthermore, earthwork will be proactively completed before the rainy season begins to preemptively prevent ground displacement caused by excavation.

Given the complex causes of sinkholes, the corporation plans to conduct regular joint inspections with underground facility management agencies such as Busan City, the district office, Busan Environmental Corporation, and KT. Joint safety inspections will also be carried out with related experts, including the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, before the thawing and rainy seasons, and site inspections with the city council will be conducted in parallel to secure public trust.

Additionally, the corporation has organized day and night patrol teams to strengthen constant monitoring, and any suspicious sites discovered during patrols are proactively excavated for confirmation. In fact, in February, a patrol team detected early signs of water pipe damage near the Saebyeok Market, completed repairs, and prevented an accident in advance.

A reporting center has also been established to allow nearby residents to directly report suspected sinkhole areas, creating a community-based monitoring system.

On the afternoon of the 10th, the corporation held an "Urban Railway Construction Site Safety Resolution Rally" with 16 companies, including Doosan Construction, the contractor for the Sasang~Hadan Line. About 100 construction officials attended the event to reaffirm their commitment to safety, recited a resolution, and pledged to establish a responsible safety culture. After the rally, a GPR inspection was conducted with external experts, and members of the Busan City Council's Construction and Transportation Committee visited the site.

Lee Byungjin, President of Busan Transportation Corporation, said, "We will make every effort to prevent ground subsidence, prioritizing the lives and safety of citizens above all else," adding, "I believe it is the duty of public institutions to inspect and prepare in advance, and we will continue to implement effective measures without wavering to create a safe urban railway construction site."

Busan Transportation Corporation is holding the 'Urban Railway Construction Site Safety Resolution Meeting' and conducting GDR exploration.

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