Gangdong-gu Construction Safety Center: The Key Contributor to Creating a Safe City

Construction Site Inspection

Gangdong-gu Recognized for Efforts with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award in the Special Category of the 2022 Construction Administration Evaluation

Expansion of Support Projects Including Building Inspections and Repairs/Reinforcements of Collapse-Risk Buildings to Establish a Construction Safety System

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) is implementing various policies to prevent safety accidents in advance by strengthening safety management of private aged buildings and construction sites.

Previously, the district established the Construction Safety Center nationwide for the first time in 2018 and expanded the department to a division level in 2021.

The Construction Safety Center handles tasks such as ▲ safety inspections of existing buildings ▲ support projects for repairs and reinforcements of collapse-risk and dangerous buildings ▲ safety management of construction and demolition sites to ensure safety throughout the entire lifecycle of buildings from new construction to demolition.

In recognition of these efforts, the district received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award in the special category of the 2022 ‘Korea Construction Administration Evaluation’ last September. It was highly evaluated for actively supporting building lifecycle management (construction permits, commencement, maintenance, demolition, etc.) and providing expert on-site safety inspection services for private buildings. Last year, it recorded the largest scale of inspections and support since the establishment of the Construction Safety Center.

Strengthening Safety Inspections and Continuous Supervision of Construction and Demolition Sites to Establish a Construction Safety System

Most buildings in Gangdong-gu are small-scale low-rise buildings over 30 years old. Since 2001, annual inspections have been conducted on a total of 19,523 small-scale aged buildings approved for use before 1992. In 2022, a total of 1,396 safety inspections were carried out.

Small-scale aged buildings undergo a first inspection by construction experts visiting the site. If risk factors are found, a second inspection team composed of building management inspection agencies visits to check structural safety, fire safety, and energy performance. If urgent safety measures are needed after the second inspection, precise safety diagnoses and support for repair and reinforcement works are provided.

Additionally, the district significantly expanded the ‘Visiting Safety Inspection’ service, where structural experts visit sites to check safety vulnerabilities, from 5 cases in 2020 to 32 cases in 2022.

Since building safety requires management from architectural design and construction to supervision, from January this year, architects, structural engineers, and construction engineers plan to conduct technical reviews of design documents and supervision reports.

Support Projects for Repairs and Reinforcements of Collapse-Risk Buildings Exceeding 140% Compared to 2021 Results

The district implements various support policies targeting collapse-risk or aged dangerous buildings and facilities, including ▲ repair and reinforcement works ▲ precise safety diagnoses ▲ seismic and fire safety performance enhancements. In 2021, support was provided to 13 sites with a budget of 130 million KRW, but last year, it increased by 140% to 18 sites with a budget of 229 million KRW for repair, reinforcement, and performance improvement through construction services and subsidies.

The Construction Safety Center supported one commercial building in Cheonho-dong, previously aged and risky, from precise safety diagnosis to repair and reinforcement through the ‘Visiting Safety Inspection’ service, upgrading its safety grade from D to B. For other dangerous buildings where repairs are difficult, IoT sensors are attached to monitor tilt and cracks in real time to prevent safety accidents.

Various Safety-Related Policies Including Installation of Lighting at Construction Sites in Youth Crime-Prone Areas

Furthermore, in response to an increase in juvenile delinquency incidents near nighttime construction sites, the district installed LED lighting near construction sites in youth crime-prone areas. After a pilot operation at 26 sites, public satisfaction was high, and this year, the plan is to expand the project in collaboration with Gangdong Police Station.

A system analyzing CCTV footage of construction sites with AI to determine compliance with safety rules was introduced, and safety education for construction workers was conducted twice annually last year.

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “Receiving the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award in the 2022 Korea Construction Administration Evaluation recognizes Gangdong-gu as a leading autonomous district in safety. We will continue to promote building safety management policies and do our best to make Gangdong a safe city.”