Gyeonggi Fire Department's Planned Investigation into 'Illegal Acts of Firefighting Facilities'

Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters is launching a planned investigation into illegal activities related to fire safety facilities.

The Special Judicial Police Unit of the Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters announced on the 26th that from July 1 to September 30, they will conduct a planned investigation targeting 789 newly constructed buildings completed under supervision between 2021 and 2022 for illegal activities involving fire safety facilities.

The main enforcement items include ▲ omission of major fire safety facilities such as smoke control equipment and use of unapproved fire safety products ▲ illegal subcontracting by contracting fire safety construction work to non-fire safety contractors ▲ poor construction and illegal fire safety supervision ▲ illegal acts such as arbitrary disconnection and closure of fire safety facilities after building supervision completion.

The Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters will deploy 74 special judicial fire police officers in 37 teams from the headquarters, northern headquarters, and fire stations for this enforcement. This investigation is a preventive measure to stop large-scale damage caused by fire safety facilities failing to operate during a fire.

Im Jeong-ho, Director of Disaster Prevention at the Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters, said, "Considering that illegal activities related to fire safety facilities have been routinely carried out in newly constructed buildings, we decided to proceed with a planned investigation," adding, "We plan to expand the planned investigations to eradicate illegal acts that hinder fire safety activities and threaten the safety of residents."

Meanwhile, the Fire Industry Act stipulates that violations such as omission of fire safety facilities, illegal subcontracting, and false supervision are punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW. The Fire Safety Facilities Act prescribes penalties of up to five years imprisonment or fines up to 50 million KRW for acts of closure and disconnection of fire safety facilities, and up to three years imprisonment or fines up to 30 million KRW for the use of unapproved fire safety products.