Sagging Bridge Beams on the Han River: A Closer Look at the Gaps

An access ramp on the northern end of Dongjak Bridge in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Countless vehicles pass through here every day to cross the bridge, and a Seoul city sign posted on the side informs drivers that "structural measurements are underway to check safety."

At the point where two sections of the access ramp bridge piers meet, you can see that level differences, or steps, have formed.

If you measure it directly, you can see that the length is about 10 cm.

Earlier this month, a step of about 9 cm was identified on the access ramp of Seongsu Bridge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, prompting a series of citizen reports. Now, in less than a month, a step of a similar length has been found on another bridge.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "In both bridges, the level differences occurred as the sand and soil-focused ground gradually eroded."

Regarding the step on Dongjak Bridge, it added, "It was first identified in 2023 and has been inspected periodically since then, and there are no safety issues."

[Seoul Metropolitan Government Official: Since it is a soil section, as time passes, air will escape little by little and it will settle slightly. The step formed during that process.]

Experts point out that since Dongjak Bridge has been in use for over 40 years since its completion in 1984, it is necessary to reinforce it by using the "grouting" method, which injects concrete and other materials into unstable ground.

[Lee Su-gon, Former Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Seoul: (Since the area near the access ramp) is a riverbed, I think sand could wash away little by little. Then, we need to reinforce it by doing grouting there so that it doesn't come out further.]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is conducting a full inspection of the access ramps of Han River bridges, and on the 29th, it plans to tear up the road pavement at the Seongsu Bridge site to check the safety of the ground at the stepped section.

Dongjak Bridge, over 40 years old, also widens gaps... A carbon copy of Seongsu Bridge (SBS 8 News, July 26, 2026)

(Reported by Kim Min-jun | Produced by Lee Se-young | Camera Operation by Jang Woon-seok | Video Editing by Lee Hong-myeong | Design by Kim Ye-ji | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.