It has been revealed that the marine pedestrian bridge in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, which narrowly avoided a major disaster when its piers and deck suddenly collapsed in broad daylight, had undergone a precise safety inspection and a 700 million-won repair just six months ago.
While the safety assessment at the time diagnosed that only the severely corroded upper structures needed to be replaced, critics point out that flaws in the lower structures, such as the pier foundations, may have been overlooked. This has intensified controversy surrounding the safety evaluation, construction, and overall management and supervision by local authorities.
According to the city of Pohang, the city spent approximately 35.52 million won from February to May 2024 to conduct a precise safety inspection of Boritdol Bridge, a marine pedestrian bridge.
The inspection service firm concluded that the upper structure of the connecting deck, or floor slab, and the steel connections supporting it suffered from severe corrosion and damage, recommending a complete replacement rather than partial repairs.
In response, Pohang City invested 700 million won in city funds to replace the steel supports of the connecting parts and the upper deck from September of last year to January of this year.
However, just six months after the completion of the construction, on the 28th, part of the piers and deck, including the repaired section, collapsed completely into the sea.
Out of the total length of 249.5 meters, a marine section measuring 4.5 meters in width and 79.8 meters in length caved in.
Fortunately, there were no pedestrians on the bridge at the time of the accident, and 17 anglers and tourists stranded on Boritdol at the end of the bridge were all rescued, resulting in no casualties.
However, it was a harrowing situation that could have led to a major loss of life had people been using the bridge.
Boritdol Bridge received a B grade in the 2020 precise safety inspection and a C grade in 2024.
Grades B and C indicate states where there are no severe defects in the overall structure, but some members require repair or reinforcement.
Nevertheless, because the piers and deck collapsed together even after the upper connecting parts were newly replaced, questions are being raised as to whether the safety assessment failed to properly identify defects in the lower structures, seabed rock formations, or pier foundations.
The city has formed a dedicated task force for safety management of marine public facilities to re-examine the entire process of the bridge's construction, completion, safety diagnosis, and repair work.
The Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Donghae Regional Korea Coast Guard is also investigating the circumstances behind the collapse of the bridge 13 years after its completion.
Boritdol Bridge is part of the Janggili Complex Fishing Park, a project worth 12 billion won, and was completed in December 2013 with an investment of 2.8 billion won from national, provincial, and city funds.
(Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Hong Jinyoung | Graphics by Yang Hyemin | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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