Seoul World Cup Stadium Establishes 'Wind Speed Standards' for Temporary Stage Safety... Reviewed Every 3 Years

Establishment of Internal Standards Reflecting Stadium Characteristics with Both Indoor and Outdoor Environments

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Facilities Corporation announced on the 14th that it has established and will implement the "Temporary Stage Installation Wind Speed Standards," which set stage installation criteria based on the intensity of strong winds during performances and events at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu.

Previously, when hosting performances and events at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, a uniform wind speed standard of 10m/s, which applies to general temporary stages, was used for installing structures. This did not reflect the unique characteristics of the World Cup Stadium, which has both indoor and outdoor features due to its partial roofing, and it was difficult to respond to rapidly changing climate conditions, posing a risk of outdoor stage collapse accidents caused by strong winds.

Accordingly, the corporation conducted about a year of investigation and analysis to proactively prepare for stage accidents caused by strong winds during performances and events, and has now established the "Temporary Stage Design Wind Speed and Warning Level during Events" standards.

The corporation installed wind direction and wind speed meters at the locations of temporary stages where actual performances take place and collected over 60,000 related data points over approximately 13 months from October 2019. They analyzed the statistical correlation between external wind speeds and those inside the stadium, deriving a stadium-specific temporary stage wind speed standard of 16.2m/s.

According to the warning level standards, Level 1 is "Caution," issued when wind speeds are between 8m/s and less than 10m/s, during which emergency measures are prepared. Level 2 is "Alert," issued when wind speeds are from 10m/s up to 14.6m/s, during which performances are temporarily suspended and facilities are re-inspected. Level 3 is the "Severe" level, applied when wind speeds exceed 14.6m/s, and performances are stopped.

The corporation plans to specify the "Temporary Stage Wind Speed Standards and Warning Levels during Events" in future rental contracts and provide prior guidance to performance stakeholders for application. Additionally, it will continuously accumulate wind direction and speed data within the stadium and review the standards every three years to effectively respond to climate change.

Director Cho Sung-il stated, "The introduction of these wind speed standards for performance stage installation is significant in that it proactively prepares for stage-related accidents that may occur due to strong winds," adding, "Once COVID-19 subsides, many citizens will want to watch performances in person, and we will continue to strive to establish a safer environment from various aspects."