"Myeongil-dong Sinkhole: Real Cause to Be Revealed"... Investigation Period Extended Until July

Mobilizing Drilling and Modeling
"Thoroughly Tracing the Cause with 3D Precision Analysis"

Regarding the ground subsidence accident that occurred in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul on March 24, the Central Underground Accident Investigation Committee (the Committee) announced on May 27 that it has decided to extend the investigation period by two months in order to further determine the cause of the accident. The investigation, which was originally scheduled to end on May 31, will now continue until July 30. If necessary, the period may be extended further.

Yonhap News Agency

The Committee is chaired by Professor Park Injun of Hanseo University. According to Article 40 of the Enforcement Decree of the Underground Safety Act, the Committee can operate for up to six months. So far, the Committee has focused its on-site investigations and data analysis on the construction and management status of Subway Line 9 at the accident site, as well as the geological conditions of the area.

Since the initial meeting on March 31, the Committee has conducted a total of four on-site investigations, nine committee meetings, and hearings with related parties. The Committee is attempting a multifaceted analysis of the causes through drilling and sample collection at eight locations, soil tests, and reviews of design documents.

Going forward, the Committee plans to determine the cause of the accident through more precise investigations, including ground stability analysis using numerical modeling, three-dimensional geological structure analysis, reviews of water and sewage network maps, and examination of construction and design cases from the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway.

Chairman Park Injun stated, "We will objectively identify the cause of the accident by comprehensively reviewing not only the results of our investigation so far but also additional analyses from specialized institutions, and we will establish effective measures to prevent similar accidents from recurring."