[Exclusive] MOLIT to Establish Dedicated Underground Safety Division Amid Series of Sinkhole Accidents

Integration of Dispersed Safety Management Functions Across Departments
Establishing a 'Control Tower' for Comprehensive Response System
Nominee Kim Yoonduk Emphasizes "Dramatic Increase in Personnel" for Underground Safety

Kim Yoonduk, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has expressed a strong determination to address the issue of 'sinkholes,' also known as 'ground subsidence.' In line with this, it has been confirmed that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is actively pushing forward with the establishment of a dedicated 'Underground Safety Division.' The aim is to consolidate the currently dispersed safety management functions from various departments into a powerful control tower and to systematically respond to the increasingly complex risks associated with underground spaces.

The sinkhole accident site in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, last March. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to MOLIT on July 31, the ministry is currently in discussions with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to establish the Underground Safety Division. Any restructuring of government ministries requires consultation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. A MOLIT official explained the background of this initiative, stating, "As cities become more advanced and underground facilities age, the potential risks threatening public safety beneath our feet have increased significantly," and added, "It is urgent to establish a comprehensive national response system through a dedicated organization."

Currently, underground safety-related tasks at MOLIT are divided among the Facility Safety Division and the Construction Safety Division under the Technical Safety Policy Bureau. However, this dual structure has limitations in providing comprehensive and prompt responses. Furthermore, since each department has its own primary responsibilities, the need for a dedicated organization solely focused on underground safety has been raised.

According to MOLIT, a total of 2,119 cases of ground subsidence occurred nationwide over the past ten years (2015?2024). As plans for undergrounding railways and roads increase and underground space development continues to grow, the likelihood of accidents is also rising. Major accidents resulting in casualties have also occurred consecutively. Notable examples include the sinkhole incident in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, which is currently under investigation by an accident investigation committee, and the road collapse at the construction site of the Shinansan Line.

The Underground Safety Division is expected to oversee tasks such as formulating underground safety-related policies and R&D plans, conducting integrated safety inspections of underground spaces nationwide, and identifying accident causes and developing measures to prevent recurrence. It is also anticipated to play a central role in implementing mid- to long-term policies such as the '2nd National Underground Safety Management Basic Plan (2025?2029),' which the government announced earlier. This plan is established every five years for underground safety management.

Meanwhile, Kim Yoonduk, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, defined sinkholes as a "very serious problem" during the ministerial confirmation hearing on July 29, and stated that he would thoroughly assess the current state of underground safety management and develop countermeasures. He also pledged to continue expanding the disclosure of underground safety information to guarantee the public's right to know. In addition, he strongly agreed on the need for a "drastic increase" in the number of safety inspection personnel, which currently stands at only about ten, and it is expected that with the establishment of the dedicated organization, there will be a significant reinforcement of both personnel and authority.