[2022 National Audit] When Museums Catch Fire, Our Cultural Heritage Is Helpless

Ministry of Culture's Inspection Results: 96% of National Cultural Facilities Including Museums and Exhibition Halls Receive 'Caution' Notices

Panorama of the Baekje and Gaya Exhibition Halls at the National Museum of Korea. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Concerns have been raised about the lax management of emergency power generation equipment installed in national cultural facilities such as museums and art galleries to prepare for emergencies including fires.

According to the "Inspection Results on the Safety Management of Emergency Power Generation Equipment in National Cultural Facilities" report submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Im Okyung, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party, 23 out of 24 institutions surveyed received warnings.

Current Building Act and Firefighting Facilities Act regulations require the installation of emergency generators for emergency power supply in buildings above a certain size and mandate regular inspections by the facility itself and electrical safety corporations. However, according to statistics from the National Fire Agency, over the past four years, 250 casualties occurred due to firefighting equipment failing to operate because emergency generators did not function during fire incidents.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's inspection results, among 26 inspected sites, 20 facilities, accounting for 77%, either did not establish their own safety inspection plans or omitted key inspection items.

List of Issues Identified in the Safety Management Inspection Results of Emergency Power Facilities at National Cultural Institutions. Photo by Im O-kyung Office

In particular, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which holds designated cultural properties, was found to have not addressed issues pointed out in the electrical equipment inspection conducted last November by the time of this year's main inspection period, highlighting a serious safety negligence problem.

There were also cases where emergency generators were not installed or where rapid response was limited. The National Gugak Center did not install generators, citing that it receives power from two substations and is therefore not subject to mandatory emergency power equipment installation. The National Asia Culture Center was found to have difficulties in rapid response due to the need for manual operation caused by voltage differences between generators.

Meanwhile, deficiencies were also found in the management of personnel responsible for emergency equipment. Twenty institutions, including the National Museum of Korea, received warnings for failing to replace outdated measuring equipment or conduct safety gear inspections related to emergency generator management and operation. At the National Museum of Korea and the National Buyeo Museum, delays in appointing managers or absence of equipment personnel were identified.

Assembly member Im Okyung stated, "At a time when public interest in the safety management of multi-use facilities is increasing, national cultural facilities should set an example, but complacent operations continue," adding, "Prompt measures such as facility expansion are necessary to protect cultural heritage and ensure visitor safety."