Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Publishes List of Facilities Failing Artificial Turf Inspection

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has disclosed facilities that failed the 'Artificial Turf and Urethane Facility Hazardous Substance Inspection.'

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 1st, out of 166 artificial turf sites in Jeonnam educational facilities, 20 sites (12.0%) were judged as failing, and out of 441 elastic pavement (urethane) sites, 105 facilities (23.8%) received a failing judgment.

The 125 artificial turf and urethane facility playgrounds that failed this inspection will be reconstructed with soil or natural grass.

This hazardous substance inspection was conducted from July to November at 607 sites in 374 schools across Jeonnam Province, commissioned to an accredited inspection company. The inspection team visited schools directly to collect samples, which were then analyzed for components at the inspection agency.

The main inspection items included 29 chemical components such as heavy metal content, volatile organic compounds, and total phthalate plasticizer content in the facilities, with a thorough analysis of whether each component exceeded safety standards.

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education decided to restrict access and suspend use of the failing facilities, and plans to demolish and reconstruct them with soil (masato) or natural grass between January and February next year through the next year's main budget and supplementary budget allocation.

Kim Seon-chi, Director of the Physical Education, Health, and Arts Division, said, "Through this inspection, we will fully reconstruct facilities exceeding hazardous standards into eco-friendly facilities to ensure that students in our region can safely and healthily participate in physical activities."