Yeongdeungpo District Inspects Ground Subsidence at Sinansan Line and Other Construction Sites with Advanced Equipment

Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul announced on July 8 that it had conducted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at the construction site of the Sinansan Line in Yeouido and at nearby large-scale construction sites on July 4.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Underground Safety Information System, there were a total of 1,398 cases of ground subsidence nationwide from 2018 to last year, with 672 cases (48%) occurring during the summer, the highest among all seasons. In particular, a recent accident at a construction site in the Seoul metropolitan area has heightened residents' concerns about underground safety.

Choi Hokwon, head of Yeongdeungpo District, personally visited two major construction sites in the district to conduct safety inspections, emphasizing disaster prevention and the importance of ensuring residents' safety. On that day, he went down approximately 70 meters into the Sinansan Line construction site to thoroughly inspect the site.

This inspection was carried out at the Sinansan Line Section 4-2 construction site (Yeouido-dong 2-6 area) and at a nearby large construction site (Yeouido-dong 25-11). Advanced equipment was deployed to check for underground hazards that are not visible to the naked eye. Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, the team meticulously checked for voids beneath the road surface, and with closed-circuit television (CCTV) equipment, they conducted a detailed inspection of the inside of the sewage pipelines.

District head Choi Hokwon emphasized that the safety of residents is the top priority. He called on those in charge to strengthen patrols and preemptive safety inspections of roads around large construction sites, and to ensure thorough safety management so that immediate action can be taken in the event of any abnormal signs.

Meanwhile, the district is conducting regular surveys using ground-penetrating radar equipment by dividing the entire district into five zones, and is carrying out intensive inspections as needed at 32 large construction sites where excavation depth exceeds 10 meters.

Choi stated, "Ground subsidence around construction sites is a serious issue directly affecting the lives and property of residents," and added, "We will continue to realize Yeongdeungpo District as a safe city through regular and systematic management using advanced equipment."