Seoul Sinkhole Claims Motorcyclist’s Life, Raising Infrastructure Safety Concerns

The 20-meter-wide sinkhole, which appeared near a subway construction site, prompted a 17-hour rescue operation and has led to calls for a thorough investigation.

A motorcyclist in his 30s was found dead on March 25, 2025, after falling into a massive sinkhole that appeared at a busy intersection in Seoul's Gangdong district the previous evening.
The sinkhole, measuring approximately 20 meters wide and 20 meters deep, opened near an active subway construction site, with ongoing work suspected as a potential contributing factor.
Rescue teams worked for 17-18 hours to recover the victim’s body, facing challenges such as water accumulation, unstable ground, and debris removal.
A van driver sustained minor injuries in the incident, narrowly avoiding falling into the sinkhole as the road gave way.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has called for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse and measures to enhance urban infrastructure safety.

South China Morning Post