Lee to hold those responsible for Seosomun collapse accountable, no matter 'rank or position'

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during the senior staff meeting at the Blue House in Jongno District, central Seoul, on May 28. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a full investigation into the Seosomun Overpass collapse, as well as a separate rebar defect at a major transit hub, vowing to hold those responsible accountable "regardless of rank or position."

"The bad practice of prioritizing money over safety and efficiency over safety still persists in parts of our society," Lee said during a senior staff meeting at the Blue House in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Thursday. “A thorough investigation is needed into whether the accident at the Seosomun Overpass demolition site, as well as the missing rebar issue in the GTX project at Samseong Station, also stemmed from these kinds of entrenched problems.”

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A section of Seosomun Overpass in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, collapsed during demolition work on Tuesday, killing three people. A lack of safety measures and the simultaneous entry of multiple inspectors onto a weakened structure are being floated as possible reasons for the incident as authorities continue their investigation.