▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae on May 28, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) president-public safety

(LEAD) Lee calls for stern punishment for those responsible for fatal overpass collapse in Seoul

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SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for a prompt investigation and stern punishment for those responsible for recent safety-related incidents, including the collapse of an overpass in Seoul that killed three workers.

The president made the call while presiding over a meeting with senior aides, two days after a section of the Seosomun Overpass in western Seoul collapsed during demolition work, killing three workers and injuring three others.

Lee also referred to a recent revelation that underground construction at Samseong Station for the high-speed commuter rail line GTX-A was completed without sufficient rebar, as he made the call.

"These incidents are especially serious because they involve the public sector, which is supposed to lead efforts to ensure public safety," Lee said.

"Institutions in charge should promptly uncover the truth and, in accordance with the results, sternly hold those responsible accountable regardless of their rank," the president added. "Money cannot be more valuable than lives."

The president noted that the country saw a sharp decline in the number of workplace deaths in the first quarter of this year, but the figure still remains high.

"It should be kept in mind that safety is the most effective investment," he said, pledging to devote maximum government resources to safeguarding the people's lives.

Later in the day, the labor ministry granted conditional approval to resume demolition work on the Seosomun Overpass after receiving an application from the Seoul city government.

The municipal government said it plans to restart the demolition immediately.

Meanwhile, the city government said workers conducting inspections at the time of the collapse were not wearing fall-prevention safety equipment, including lifelines.

A safety management plan obtained Thursday by Rep. Cheon Jun-ho of the ruling Democratic Party showed the contractor had established specific measures to prevent demolition workers from falling. According to the document, submitted by a state body overseeing land and infrastructure safety, workers were required to install horizontal lifeline anchor systems on elevated surfaces and connect safety lines to prevent falls.

However, the authority confirmed five people, including the site manager and supervising engineer who were killed, were not wearing the required safety gear at the time of the accident.

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