Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollum]

I remember hearing that not long before I came here, a bridge in central Seoul collapsed during rush hour, because the builder had tried to save money and cheated on construction.

Yesterday, a Korean friend told me about some buildiings (I think one she said was the LG Building at Yeoksam?) that Koreans feel might collapse. I asked why, and she said, "Because it went up so fast." She also mentioned the same about the World Cup stadium.

This discussion started when I told her that I wanted to take the bullet train to Busan, but she cautioned that rumors are people who built it say they would not dare ride it because the track is "unsafe."

Have you heard any other rumors about unsafe construction in Korea? Just thought it would make an interesting topic.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

That was the Seongsudaegyo that collapsed in 1994. It was rebuilt and still stands. Watch out while you are driving on it!

The Sampoong Department Store famously collapsed in 1995 and killed hundreds of people. Rumour is that the bosses knew it was about to happen, took all the valuable merchandise out of the store and evacuated, leaving hundreds of shoppers in store.

I too heard the same thing about the KTX. Sounds like more chatter from the same people that thought that Highway 1 Seoul-Busan was unnecessary. Personally, I wear a helmet 24 hours a day.

[desultude]

And what was the name of that bridge that collapsed in Melbourne?

Anyone remember the new football staduim folding like a house of cards in Seattle?

[Dalton]

An airport in France?

[Swiss James]

...swimming pool in Russia...

[Ryst Helmut]

[Corporal]

Korean fans were banned from jumping in the hall during Lavigne��s first Korean performance at the Millennium Hall in Central City because the building might have shaken. Expectedly, Korean fans may freely jump and bounce at the Olympic Hall because it is located on the first floor.

[Eazy_E]

Shopping mall in Burnaby, BC Canada....

[dogbert]

Wrigley Field is falling apart too.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Ryst, it was a huge scandal. Surprised you didn't know about it. Most Koreans today know about it.

[crazylemongirl]

I was watching discovery last night and they had a piece on suspension bridges. One of the problems that engineers still have trouble over coming is resonance (the bridges natural pitch) it led to the total collapse of a bridge in washington in the 40s when they thought that they had engineered a bridge that could over come hurricane force winds however the bridges pitch was at 30. Also in london people were caused a bridge to osscilate sideways as when the wind blew they moved their feet further apart...

[peppergirl]

[Iwanttoberich]

Korean Joke (humour must be lost in translation):

Q. Why does New Core departmentaa have big red ribbon ?

A. To hold the building together.

Assaaaa

[djsmnc]

Records of incidents:



http://www.basedn.freeserve.co.uk/bridge.htm


http://www.basedn.freeserve.co.uk/buildings.htm

[Demophobe]

I know for a fact that the high-speed train is dangerous. I am friends with one of the engineers from France who has been here for 5 years during construction.

One of the first things he said to me when I went to Pusan to see him was "Come by regular train".

The Koreans wanted it NOW....it's implementation was way too fast and many saftey features/measures were overlooked. The Korean engineers are not paying attention to the manuals nor the French engineer's advice (macho bravado thing according to my friend) and the trains/tracks are riddled with problems, some small and some large.

The small problems are basically wear and tear, causing many parts to malfunction and outright fail frequently. The larger problems will mean catastrophe, and according to my very reliable source, it's only a matter of time.

The worst part is that since the Koreans have taken over full control (only a handful of French engineers are here now), it has been a nightmare for the French workers and the French government. The Koreans are blaming everything on the French. My friend is at his wit's end....he was making great money (still is > ) and had French bosses to answer to, but now, a year later and he is still here (he is an electrical engineer, and these are most of the problems) and he is answering to the Koreans. Apparently they ride him pretty hard.

Anyways, he leaves in 4 months, as do most of the French workers, and then he says the fun will begin.

I will never, ever take that train.