Vibration in High-Rise Building in Seongdong-gu... "No Abnormalities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] A report was received about vibrations felt in a high-rise mixed-use residential and commercial building in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. After an emergency safety inspection by the construction company, it was concluded that the vibrations were unrelated to the building's safety.

According to the fire authorities on the 21st, a report was made around 4 p.m. the previous day stating, "The Acro Seoul Forest D Tower building was shaking up and down, and I felt vibrations twice."

The fire department checked the earthquake detection device at the disaster prevention center located in the building's basement but reportedly detected no vibrations.

However, employees working at companies located in the mixed-use office building posted online expressing anxiety, saying things like "I felt vibrations three times today" and "The monitor was shaking."

The construction company, DL E&C, conducted a building inspection together with the fire authorities the previous day and also dispatched internal and external experts separately on the same day to carry out measurements.

At around 5:30 p.m. that day, DL E&C announced, "The vibrations are unrelated to the building's stability."

Professor Park Hong-geun of Seoul National University's Department of Architecture, who participated in the measurements, explained, "The vibrations are presumed to have been caused by specific activities inside the building, and the level of vibration appears to be minor vibrations that do not affect the building's safety. It is expected that determining the exact cause will take some time."

DL E&C stated, "Leaks or broken glass are simple damages unrelated to the current vibrations and are currently being repaired," adding, "To analyze the exact cause of the vibrations, additional measuring devices will be installed on key floors for monitoring."

Meanwhile, about ten people, including structural engineers dispatched from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul City, and Seongdong-gu Office, participated in the emergency safety inspection conducted that day, in addition to experts dispatched by DL E&C.

However, the safety inspection results announced so far are conclusions made by experts dispatched by DL E&C. The diagnostic results from authorities such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City are expected to be disclosed separately later.

Acro Seoul Forest, completed in December 2020, is a mixed-use residential and commercial building. It consists of D Tower, a 33-story office space, two residential buildings with 49 floors above ground, and commercial facilities with four floors above ground.