[Q&A] Lee Jong-ho: "No Signs of 'Pangyo Fire'... Need for Improvements Beyond Temperature Sensors"

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT Holds Briefing on the 6th
SK C&C BMS System 'Under Scrutiny'
Maintained Normal Temperature Until Just Before Fire
One Temperature Sensor Alone Is Insufficient
Supports Passage of 'Kakao Outage Recurrence Prevention Act'

The government held a joint briefing on the afternoon of the 6th at the Government Seoul Office to announce the investigation results of the 'Pangyo Data Center Fire' incident. The photo shows Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT explaining the investigation results. Photo by Cha Min-young

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] On the 6th, the government announced in a briefing on the investigation results of the 'Pangyo Data Center Fire' that the number of damage reports due to Kakao service disruptions reached approximately 105,000 cases. This is part of the follow-up measures after the Pangyo data center fire in October. The government requested SK C&C, Kakao, and Naver to establish and report improvement measures for the main causes of the accident and future plans within one month.

The Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Communications Commission, and the National Fire Agency jointly announced the investigation results on the SK C&C Pangyo data center fire and the service disruptions of value-added communication services such as Kakao and Naver during the briefing.

In the case of the SK C&C Pangyo data center, it was found that although there was a Battery Management System (BMS) that monitored battery temperature and other factors, it failed to detect signs of fire. The temperature remained at a normal level until just before the fire, raising the need for supplementary measures beyond the temperature sensor. The fire started in the battery room on the third basement floor. Some UPS units located in the partitioned space where the power lines and ceiling space were not separated in the upper part of the battery room were damaged and stopped functioning due to heat and other factors (estimated) caused by the fire. To prevent secondary damage such as electric leakage during water spraying, a power cut was decided.

In particular, although the gas extinguishing equipment operated after the fire broke out, it was understood that initial suppression was limited due to the characteristics of lithium-ion battery fires, which are difficult to extinguish with gas. The lithium-ion batteries were not physically completely separated from some uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), causing the UPS to stop functioning and power supply to be interrupted. Although there was a fire response manual, there was no detailed response plan or drills reflecting the actual fire situation level.

Below is the Q&A session with Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT and others.

▲ There does not seem to be any significantly new information regarding the cause of the accident. Are there any newly confirmed details?

= The Fire Agency and related departments are currently conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire. We will inform you as soon as the results are available. The Ministry of Science and ICT focused more on how companies are responding and whether appropriate measures are being taken to prevent such incidents from happening again, rather than investigating detailed causes.

▲ There is criticism that the BMS system of SK C&C needs to be reorganized and improved. Was there a judgment that the BMS did not function properly during the fire? Experts say that lithium-ion batteries gradually increase in temperature and show signs. Was this not detected due to problems with the BMS or other management systems?

= I asked many questions as well. At the scene, it was said that the BMS was operating, and I remember asking, "What was the temperature?" However, since the temperature remained normal until just before the fire, it appears that relying on a single temperature sensor was insufficient. I think we need to devise various methods to detect fires earlier. We are currently considering this, and it is expected to be included in future measures.

▲ Lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to extinguish. Alternatives need to be found in this situation. Are there plans to mandate the use of lead-acid batteries or others?

= I understand that the most effective way to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires is by spraying water. If such batteries are used, conditions for safely spraying water and other additional requirements need to be established. We need to develop those aspects.

Also, if lithium-ion batteries are replaced with lead-acid batteries, concerns about water spraying would be reduced. We plan to listen to experts, industry representatives, and related departments to discuss how to prevent accidents and reflect those discussions in policies.

▲ The National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee proposed the 'Kakao Outage Prevention Act,' but it seems the Ministry of Science and ICT currently has no way to force Kakao to implement redundancy measures. Is there a response plan if Kakao does not comply with the requirements?

= Regarding the law, I understand it is currently under consideration in the National Assembly. We hope for progress within this month and will do our best to support its prompt enactment.

▲ Please explain in detail the main contents of the comprehensive improvement plan to be established in the first quarter of next year.

= We plan to announce it as soon as possible in the first quarter of next year. Within one month, we will include results of various measures, future plans, and mid-to-long-term plans. We will discuss how to manage problems when they occur, including legal frameworks, and comprehensively include these in policy measures.

▲ Is it correct to understand that value-added communication service providers and IDC operators will be included in the disaster management law regulatory network at the level of major broadcasting and communication service providers?

= The legal framework applies to large-scale major operators. For smaller companies, the law is expected to apply less strictly to facilitate progress.

▲ You had demands for SK C&C and Kakao. Are these mandatory? If not legally mandatory, how will you inspect and enhance effectiveness?

= After the occurrence of failures, we provide administrative guidance on the recovery process and results, but this does not have binding force. However, since this incident is very significant, we expect the operators to respond sincerely.

▲ I understand the Fire Agency did not have a fire suppression manual related to data centers or UPS. I heard you said you would create one during the National Assembly audit. What is the current status?

= (Lee Joong-gi, Head of Fire Response Investigation Division, National Fire Agency) I am the head of the Fire Response Investigation Division. You pointed out the need for fire response procedures specialized for data centers. Last week, the Fire Agency drafted a standard operating procedure after collecting opinions. We are currently gathering feedback from within the Fire Agency and local fire stations. We expect to establish separate data center fire response procedures, excluding electrical fires and energy storage systems (ESS), by January next year.

▲ You said you would prepare a comprehensive plan by the first quarter of next year. What is the core policy direction?

= We need to reflect various results and plans from the operators who had failures before confidently announcing. There are multiple perspectives from ministries, operators, and experts that need to be considered. Going through this process will help avoid confusion and deliver accurate messages. Please wait for the announcement in the first quarter of next year and understand the situation.

▲ The Korea Communications Commission announced plans to improve Kakao's terms of service and revise laws. When can we expect these measures, and what will they include?

= I am Kwon Hee-su, Head of User Protection Division, Korea Communications Commission. Since the scope differs between paid and free service disruptions, we are working on including notification measures for free users as well. We will prioritize improving terms of service and include amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act related to notifications and institutional improvements in the revision. We plan to release results aligned with the Ministry of Science and ICT's announcement in the first quarter.