Assemblyman Jo O-seop: "Urgent Need for System Improvements Including Mandatory Fire Safety Facilities in Logistics Warehouses"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the logistics market rapidly expands due to COVID-19, warehouse facilities serving as logistics hubs have been found to be exposed to safety risks such as fires.

On the 29th, according to the national audit data submitted by National Assembly member Jo Oh-seop (Gwangju Buk-gu Gap, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee & Budget Committee) from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Fire Agency, the number of logistics warehouses increased 4.2 times over the past 10 years, from 1,083 in 2011 to 4,626 in 2021.

In particular, Gyeonggi-do increased more than sevenfold from 212 to 1,535 locations, followed by Gwangju (16 → 78), Jeonnam (74 → 273), Incheon (49 → 354), and Chungbuk (15 → 155). The increase was especially notable near the metropolitan area.

Casualties and property damage caused by fire accidents related to logistics warehouses have also been occurring continuously.

In the past six years, there have been 7,904 fire incidents in warehouse facilities, resulting in 56 deaths, 224 injuries, and property damage amounting to 405.173 billion KRW.

More than 1,300 fires occur annually. Last year, the Icheon logistics warehouse fire caused 46 deaths, 66 injuries, and property damage of 136.6142 billion KRW. This year, a fire at a Coupang logistics warehouse resulted in the death of one firefighter, indicating a trend of serious damage.

By region, Gyeonggi-do had the highest number of incidents with 2,137 cases, followed by Gyeongbuk (897), Jeonnam (800), Chungnam (711), Gyeongnam (609), Jeonbuk (559), Gangwon (491), Chungbuk (389), Jeju (277), Incheon (219), Seoul (189), Busan (189), Daegu (126), Ulsan (102), Daejeon (95), Gwangju (69), and Sejong (45).

Since the revision of the Cargo Distribution Promotion Act in 2000, the registration system was abolished but was reinstated in 2012 with the amendment of the Logistics Facilities Act. Currently, anyone owning or leasing storage facilities with a total floor area of 1,000㎡ or more, or storage locations with a total area of 4,500㎡ or more, operating logistics warehouse businesses, must register with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

However, since registration is automatically granted as long as facility requirements are met without additional restrictions, blind spots vulnerable to safety risks such as fires inevitably occur.

Assemblyman Jo said, "While fostering industry through deregulation is important, it cannot take precedence over the life and safety of the people," adding, "To prevent tragedies like the Icheon logistics warehouse fire and the Coupang logistics warehouse fire, institutional improvements such as switching to a permit system for logistics warehouses above a certain size and mandating fire safety facilities upon registration are urgently needed."