South Korea's sinkhole cases spark fears of underground malls' structural stability
Beneath the bustling streets of major South Korean cities, vast underground malls have become an integral part of urban life, but several sinkhole incidents across the country have raised concerns about the safety of this subterranean network.
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A prime example is the sprawling GOTO Mall beneath the express bus terminal station in Seoul, a major transfer hub between three subway lines.
The 880-metre-long underground mall street attracts many visitors to its 630 stores, ranging from restaurants and grocery stores to medical clinics. There are also unstaffed stores running 24 hours a day, including pet supply shops and print centres.
Fears about the structural stability of underground malls were further heightened by two recent sinkhole incidents in
South Korea . A large sinkhole opened up beneath a pedestrian crossing in Busan in April, just a month after a 20 metres wide by 18 metres deep sinkhole in Seoul caused a motorcyclist to plunge to his death.
Over 63 sinkholes have been reported across Seoul since March 2022, according to an analysis of the capital city by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
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Malls like the GOTO Mall have become a crucial revenue source for financially pressured transit operators like Seoul Metro.
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