1950day.year
Korean War: Packed with its own refugees fleeing Seoul and leaving their 5th Division stranded, South Korean forces blow up the Hangang Bridge in an attempt to slow North Korea's offensive. The city falls later that day.
South Korean troops blew up the Hangang Bridge to slow North Korea’s advance on Seoul, but the city fell the same day.
On June 28, 1950, South Korean forces demolished the Hangang Bridge in an attempt to halt North Korea’s rapid advance on Seoul. The bridge was crowded with its own refugees and retreating 5th Division soldiers, leading to chaos and stranded troops. The demolition was intended to buy time for South Korean and UN forces to reorganize defenses north of the Han River. Despite this desperate measure, North Korean troops crossed the river later that day and captured Seoul. The event highlighted the strategic importance of infrastructure in wartime. It also underscored the high human cost of such military decisions.
Hangang Bridge
North Korea's offensive