SBS 'Tale of the Nine Tails' Revisits 'Seohae Bridge 29-Car Pile-up', Highlighting 'Selfishness' Delaying Rescue

SBS's 'Tale of the Nine Tails' (hereafter '꼬꼬무') has brought the devastating 29-car pile-up on the Seohae Bridge, which shocked South Korea in 2006, back into the spotlight.

The episode aired on the 11th delved into the worst traffic disaster in South Korean history, which occurred amidst dense fog, leaving viewers with profound shock and sadness. ILLIT's Yoona, actor Yoon Hyun-min, and Lee Seo-hwan appeared as 'story friends,' unable to hold back their emotions as they confronted the horrific truth of that day.

The accident began on the morning of October 3, 2006, a public holiday, shrouded in thick fog. A 25-ton truck rear-ended the vehicle in front, rapidly escalating into a catastrophic chain reaction involving 29 vehicles. The situation turned chaotic when a large trailer carrying five new cars crashed into the central median.

Victim Mr. Cho suffered severe leg injuries while trying to escape, and the ensuing chaos saw a high-speed bus and a tank truck collide, creating a volatile situation with the risk of explosion. ILLIT's Yoona expressed her shock, stating, "If it were me, I think I would have been so startled that I would have fainted on the spot."

What further ignited public outrage was the 'selfishness' that hampered rescue efforts immediately after the accident. While some citizens bravely brought blankets to aid in the rescue, the entry of 119 rescue teams was severely delayed due to 'selfish drivers' occupying the shoulder and onlookers gathering to watch the accident. Consequently, firefighters had to carry over 60kg of equipment and run more than 2km. A firefighter who was on duty at the time emotionally recounted, "By the time we arrived, it was too late. There were skeletal remains inside the cars."

This delay in rescue had tragic consequences. A 14-year-old boy named Min-gu, waiting for rescue inside a bus, lost precious time, spending 50 minutes in the ambulance before succumbing to his injuries just before reaching the hospital. The accident resulted in a total of 12 deaths and over 50 injuries.

'꼬꼬무' characterized the incident as a 'man-made disaster caused by individual selfishness and the absence of a national safety system,' pointing out that a similar accident occurred again nine years later on the Yeongjong Bridge. Following the broadcast, viewers expressed strong criticism towards drivers who blocked the shoulder and the inadequate safety systems.

Netizens watching the broadcast expressed their anguish, commenting, "It's so infuriating that a child died because of cars blocking the shoulder," and "How can a bridge not even have fog lights?" Others added, "This reminds us of the importance of public safety and individual responsibility."