Cultural Heritage Administration Conducts Safety Management Inspection of National Heritage Sites

Inspection Scope Expanded from 199 to 425 Locations

The Cultural Heritage Administration will conduct safety management inspections at 425 nationally designated and registered heritage sites across the country, including Changdeokgung Injeongjeon Hall, Palgeosan Fortress in Daegu, and the Zelkova tree at Garim Fortress in Buyeo, until June 21.

This is part of the "Great Safety Transformation of the Republic of Korea" initiative, jointly promoted by multiple government ministries. The Cultural Heritage Administration, local governments, public corporations, and private experts are participating. They will inspect not only the national heritage sites and surrounding facilities but also disaster prevention equipment installed and operated with lottery funds.

A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "To prevent damage caused by concentrated summer heavy rains and typhoons, we plan to focus on vulnerable areas to wind and water disasters such as drainage facilities, trees, fences, and stone lanterns."

The main inspection items include ▲safety status of national heritage sites and surrounding facilities ▲operation status of fire-fighting and security equipment ▲safety status of electrical and gas facilities ▲working conditions of safety guards ▲preparation of disaster response manuals for each site ▲maintenance of emergency contact networks, among others. The scope has been expanded from wooden cultural heritage to include stone structures, natural heritage, and tombs and burial mounds.

A Cultural Heritage Administration official explained, "The number of sites inspected has significantly increased from 199 last year to 425 this year. Considering the expanded scope, we have prepared five types of safety inspection checklists (wooden structures, stone structures, natural heritage, tombs and burial mounds, and common items)." He added, "Follow-up measures based on the results of self-inspections and joint inspections will be directly managed by each responsible department."