Sinkhole threats put construction firms on edge

Rescue workers collect the body of a POSCO E&C worker, who went missing following the collapse at a subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Gyeonggi-do Fire Services

Construction firms are on high alert after another death due to land subsidence.

Already the primary targets of criticism following fatal accidents caused by sinking ground surfaces, the companies are now facing growing concerns over sinkholes threatening major infrastructure projects.

POSCO E&C is currently under scrutiny for its supervision of the construction of the Sinansan Line in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, which collapsed on April 11, causing a section of the road above to cave in.

After a company employee in his 50s was found dead on Wednesday — six days after going missing from the site — the construction firm issued a statement apologizing for the incident and offering condolences to the bereaved family.

"We will do our best to determine the cause of the accident and cooperate with the authorities to resume construction as soon as possible," the company said. "We will also implement safety measures to prevent similar accidents from happening again."

However, it remains uncertain when construction will resume.

Following a tunnel collapse in 2020 at a railway construction site in Busan, which created a 20-meter-deep sinkhole, SK ecoplant had to delay completion by four years, reportedly spending an additional 900 billion won ($634 million).

The Seoul Subway Line 9 extension also faces uncertainty after a motorcyclist died last month after falling into a sinkhole at an intersection in Seoul's Gangdong District, located above the subway construction site.

Daewoo E&C, which oversaw the site, is currently under police investigation over the accident.

Industry officials argue it is unfair to place all the blame on construction firms, as underground infrastructure managed by central and local governments may also contribute to subsidence. They claim it is impossible for a single company to have complete knowledge of underground structures near a site.

In response to rising concerns, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the government has implemented various policies to prevent subsidence.

"We plan to conduct special inspections of major excavation sites through the end of May," a ministry official said. "We will strengthen underground safety management in collaboration with local governments by sharing response plans for ground subsidence at large excavation sites."