"Daily Walking Path..." Vehicle Entirely Sinks into Sinkhole in the Heart of Seoul

Seoul City Investigating Cause of Accident

As a sinkhole incident occurred in the heart of Seoul, swallowing a passenger car whole and raising public concerns, a witness identified as Mr. A said, "There were no warning signs at all," adding, "Who would have thought that the ground would suddenly collapse in a place we walk every day?"

Mr. A, who runs a cake shop near the accident site, stated on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 30th, "Our shop is on the second floor, and when looking down from the window, you can see the sinkhole," describing it as "an enormous hole that feels like there is a cave underneath." He added, "Since the sinkhole accident site is right in front of us, there is anxiety about whether it might affect our area as well. Residents living in the same building are even more scared than I am."

On the morning of the 29th, a passenger car fell into a sinkhole on Seongsan-ro in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The occupants of the passenger car were transported to the hospital due to this accident.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also urged a thorough investigation of the roads around the sinkhole. Mr. A said, "Currently, the road is closed off for construction, and a temporary road has been created in front of our shop where cars are passing through or parking," adding, "I hope traffic is organized quickly, and I hope a thorough investigation is conducted to prevent any further incidents on this land."

The sinkhole incident occurred on the morning of the 29th in the third lane of the four-lane one-way Seongsan-ro heading toward Seongsan Bridge in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The sinkhole measured 6 meters wide, 4 meters long, and 2.5 meters deep. As a result, a Tivoli passenger car driving over the lane fell into the collapsed hole, and two occupants were transported to the hospital.

The road is under the jurisdiction of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which stated that no underground cavities (empty spaces underground) were detected during a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey conducted on this road in May. The city and Seodaemun District Office are investigating the detailed cause of the accident.

There are also claims that warning signs appeared before the sinkhole occurred. Vehicles passing through the section just before the accident reportedly experienced severe jolting. Ju Isaac, a member of the Seodaemun District Council, said via social media on the same day, "Around 11:13 a.m., I witnessed vehicles passing near the accident site on the opposite lane experiencing severe jolting," adding, "I recorded a video and reported it to the responsible department for inspection, but shortly after, the accident happened."