SEOUL — 1994 · Major Tragedy

The Seongsu Bridge Collapse

At around 07:38 on 21 October 1994 a section of the central span of Seoul's Seongsu Bridge over the Han River collapsed. Vehicles in morning traffic, including a bus, fell into the river; 32 people were killed and 17 injured. Investigations found that faulty welding, rusted joints and inadequate maintenance caused the failure. The bridge had been built using a method that prioritised design and speed without sufficient technical expertise. Seventeen people, including Seoul city officials and executives of the construction companies, were sentenced to prison. Together with the Sampoong collapse a year later, the disaster became a symbol of the safety failures of South Korea's rapid-growth era.

Date

1994

Place

Seongdong, South Korea, Seoul, KR

Category

Major Tragedy

Case Status

Closed

Coordinates

37.5370, 127.0350 ↗

🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.