Chilling footage has emerged online showing the horrifying moment a motorcyclist was swallowed by a sinkhole in Seoul, South Korea. The motorcyclist plunged to his death when a massive sinkhole opened in the Myeongil-dong district on Monday afternoon, March 24, 2025. Dashcam footage of the disaster has since gone viral on social media.
The video, recorded by a vehicle travelling behind the motorcyclist, shows a busy road moments before the disaster. Just after passing a traffic light, the ground suddenly collapses beneath a white car, which barely escapes after bouncing out of the hole. However, the motorcyclist behind falls directly into the enormous sinkhole.
The driver of the vehicle recording the footage quickly pulls over along the side of the road. As the video continues, the collapse worsens, with the hole expanding further.
A rescue operation was immediately launched for the motorcyclist, who was identified only as Park, per a report. During a 17-hour-long search, authorities used excavators and specialised equipment. Park’s body was recovered on Tuesday, March 25. Authorities shared that the motorcyclist was found approximately 50 meters (164 feet) below ground. The police also found his phone and motorcycle near him.
According to the report, investigators are now trying to determine whether the ongoing subway construction in the area contributed to the collapse.
Sinkholes are not uncommon in Seoul; it is a recurring problem in the city with numerous incidents of the ground opening up across the city. According to reports, the city recorded 223 cases between 2015 and 2024, raising concerns about infrastructure safety.
This latest tragedy has highlighted the significant risk that these sinkholes pose to drivers and pedestrians in the bustling city. A similar incident occurred in Japan last month, which involved an elderly truck driver plunging into a sinkhole in Yashio City, northeast of Tokyo.
