[chris]

Sampoong Department Store collapsed in Seoul's Seocho District, South Korea, on June 29, 1995. The disaster killed 502 people and injured 1,445, making it South Korea's largest peacetime disaster.

During construction, plans were changed from an apartment complex to a department store. Support columns were cut away for escalators, a fifth floor was added, and column widths were reduced from the planned minimum of 80 cm to 60 cm. The original contractor reportedly refused the changes after warning about them, and was replaced.

Rescue efforts continued after officials had shifted from rescue to recovery two days after the collapse. Survivors were pulled from the wreckage after nine days, nearly 12 days, and 17 days.