Seongsu Bridge disaster

Seongsu Bridge disaster

Site of the Seongsu Bridge disaster
Date	October 21, 1994 (1994-10-21)
Time	7:38 a.m. KST
Location	Seoul, South Korea
Coordinates	37°32′14″N 127°02′06″E / 37.53722°N 127.03500°E / 37.53722; 127.03500
Cause	Structural failure caused by faulty welding and rusted extension hinges; exacerbated by insufficient maintenance and failure to prevent the propagation of fatigue cracks
Deaths	32
Non-fatal injuries	17
Convicted	17 convicted, including: Four Seoul Metropolitan Government officials Seven Dongbu Corporation officials Six Dong Ah Construction Industrial Company [ko] officials
Charges	Criminal negligence resulting in death, injury, general obstruction of traffic, and automobile accident Forgery and use of forged public documents Forgery and use of forged private documents
Verdict	Guilty
Sentence	Sentences ranging from 6 months to 3 years imprisonment

The Seongsu Bridge disaster^[a] was a deadly bridge collapse that occurred on the morning of October 21, 1994 in Seoul, South Korea. 32 people died and 17 were injured when a section of the upper truss of the Seongsu Bridge collapsed onto the Han River. A combination of faulty welding, rusted extension hinges, and insufficient maintenance resulted in the structural failure of the bridge.

The Seongsu Bridge opened in 1979 and was the 11th bridge constructed over the Han River, connecting the northern Seongdong District to the southern Gangnam District. The bridge became one of the busiest bridges in Seoul and was built as part of military dictator Park Chung Hee's plan to develop the region south of the Han River (known as Gangnam).

Seventeen Seoul Metropolitan Government, Dongbu Corporation, and Dong Ah Construction [ko] officials were convicted in connection to the collapse. The Mayor of Seoul Lee Won-jong [ko] and his successor Woo Myoung-kyu [ko] both resigned in response to the disaster. On November 10, 2000, the Dong Ah Group, the parent company of Dong Ah Construction, filed for bankruptcy and the company dissolved on May 11, 2001. The collapse was part of a string of disasters during the modernization of South Korea, including a fire on board a sightseeing boat in 1987, the sinking of MV Seohae, the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 733 and the Gupo Station rail accident in 1993, and the Daegu gas explosions and Sampoong Department Store collapse in 1995.^[1][2]

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