"Bridge Collapsed Due to Heavy Rain"... Don't Be Fooled by the Chaotic 'Geochanggyo Photo'

Heavy Rain Pours Over Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam for Two Days
Composite Photos Shared in Chatroom Including County Council Members
Traffic Control and Local Community Disturbance Ensue

On the 10th, a heavy rain advisory was issued for Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, and photos claiming partial damage to Geochang Bridge circulated on social networking services (SNS), shocking the local community. This led to a commotion, including the closure of the bridge, but it was later revealed that the photos were digitally manipulated. According to Geochang-gun, several photos showing partial damage to Geochang Bridge were uploaded on SNS that day. The police also received reports stating, "It seems there is a safety issue such as partial collapse of Geochang Bridge."

A composite photo posted on SNS claiming that part of Geochang Bridge has collapsed. [Image provided by Geochang-gun]

In response, Geochang-gun and the police deployed about 20 personnel to control access to Geochang Bridge from 9 a.m. for approximately two hours to ensure safety. However, upon detailed inspection of the bridge on site, it was confirmed that the bridge was intact without any damage, contrary to the photos. Traffic control was lifted around 11 a.m.

After investigating the situation, the county found that the commotion was triggered by the digitally manipulated photos posted on SNS. The photos showed a cracked and precarious section of the Geochang Bridge deck. It was identified that the photos were first shared in a KakaoTalk group chat that included a Geochang-gun council member. A local resident posted the manipulated photos there, which then quickly spread throughout the community.

As a result of this incident, police and county officials were mobilized for the sudden bridge closure, and many residents experienced inconvenience due to the traffic restrictions. A county official explained, "The manipulated photos caused a temporary commotion, including the closure of the bridge," and added, "Upon on-site inspection, the bridge was found to be intact." The official further stated, "It has not been determined who created and distributed the manipulated photos or for what purpose," and noted, "We are considering requesting a police investigation."

From the early morning of the 9th, record-breaking heavy rain poured down, bringing around 200mm of concentrated rainfall over two days to the western region of Gyeongnam Province. About 90 residents evacuated from areas including Geochang, Hapcheon, Uiryeong, and Jinju. In Goje-myeon, Geochang-gun, a residential wall collapsed, causing damage. The Nakdong River Flood Control Office also issued a flood advisory around 5 a.m. that day for the Namha Bridge point on the Hwanggang River in Geochang-gun. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.