Is This Really Fine? Comparing the Gap to a Reporter's Finger

An entry 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 sign posted on one side by the Seoul Metropolitan Government notifies the public that "structural measurements are underway to check safety."

This is the point where two sections of the ramp pier connect, and as you can see, level differences, or steps, have formed here.

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 also confirmed on the entry ramp of Seongsu Bridge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, prompting a series of citizen reports. Now, a step of a similar length has been discovered on another bridge in less than a month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that "for both bridges, the ground, which is mainly composed of sand or soil, has eroded slightly, causing the steps to occur."

Regarding the step on Dongjak Bridge, it added that "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 a bit 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 utilizing a "grouting" method, which involves injecting concrete or similar materials into unstable ground.

[Lee Soo-gon / Former Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Seoul: (Since the area near the entry ramp) is a riverbed, I think the sand may be washing away gradually. Then we need to do grouting there to prevent any further outflow (and reinforce it).]

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

Dongjak Bridge, Over 40 Years Old, Also Shows Gaps... A Carbon Copy of Seongsu Bridge (July 26, 2026, 8 News)

Reported by Kim Min-jun | Produced by Lee Se-young | Camera Employs: Chang Woon-seok | Video Edited by Lee Hong-myung | Design by Kim Ye-ji | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.