Following the recent balcony collapse at a high-rise apartment complex in Songdo, Incheon, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has launched a comprehensive nationwide inspection into similar cantilevered balconies constructed by the same builder.

According to written responses submitted to the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on September 15 by Minister nominee Hong Ji-sun, the government is taking proactive measures to prevent similar structural failures. When asked whether an investigation into other residential complexes built by SK Ecoplant (formerly SK Construction) was necessary, Hong stated that the ministry recognized the urgency of inspecting identical cantilevered balcony designs. Consequently, the ministry, alongside the Korea Authority of Land and Infrastructure Safety (KALIS) and the Korea Concrete Institute, has initiated a thorough review of architectural and structural design documents, including structural calculation sheets, design drawings, and supervision logs.

Regarding safety diagnoses for other households built using the same or similar construction methods, the nominee emphasized that practical conditions must be taken into account so that residents can feel secure. Currently, discussions regarding the scope and direction of the safety assessments are actively underway between residents and the construction company.

To uncover the root cause of the incident, MOLIT and the Incheon Metropolitan Government established a joint Accident Investigation Committee on August 21, which has been operating ever since. Nominee Hong promised strict follow-up measures, stating that once officially appointed, the ministry will utilize expert reviews, field inspections, and committee advisories to ensure accountability. Furthermore, should any illegalities be discovered during the design, construction, or supervision phases, stern legal measures will be enforced, alongside strengthened institutional reforms to prevent recurrence.

This response follows an accident on the morning of August 7, when a second-floor balcony at a 33-story apartment complex in Songdo collapsed. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The apartment complex was built by SK Construction and completed in February 2025.

Background and Context

Cantilevered balconies—structures that project outward from the building without external vertical bracing—rely heavily on precise cantilever reinforcement and high-load capacity anchoring. When structural failures occur so soon after completion (in this case, just months after the February 2025 handover), engineering experts typically investigate potential flaws in rebar placement, concrete curing processes, or discrepancies between structural calculations and actual on-site implementation.

The incident has sparked widespread public concern regarding high-rise residential safety standards across South Korea. As the Ministry of Land expands its investigation beyond the Songdo site, industry stakeholders are closely monitoring whether additional structural retrofits or stricter building codes for cantilevered architectural designs will be mandated nationwide.

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]