Government Launches Public-Private 'Large-Scale Disaster Risk Factor Improvement TF'

Prepared Response Plans Focused on Four Major Areas Including Electric Fire Incidents

The government is forming and operating a 'Large-scale Disaster Risk Factor Improvement Task Force (TF)' through a public-private joint approach. This measure follows President Yoon Seok-yeol's directive to thoroughly investigate the types and causes of fires in advanced new industries and establish scientific safety measures.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 12th, the government has begun discussions to identify and improve disaster risk factors with experts from related fields including eight relevant agencies (Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, National Fire Agency), academia, and companies, led by Minister Lee Sang-min.

On the 25th, firefighters are conducting a search at the scene of a fire at a primary battery manufacturing factory in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 4th of this month, the 'Battery Factory Fire Recurrence Prevention TF' was already conducted. This is because recent fires at lithium battery factories in Hwaseong have caused massive casualties, and due to the chemical properties of batteries, fires are difficult to extinguish using conventional methods.

Starting with this TF, the government plans to sequentially inspect and develop improvement measures for underground buried facilities in industrial complexes, nuclear power plants, dams, communication networks, and electric vehicle charging station safety management, which could cause large-scale damage. Additionally, in collaboration with the 'Potential Disaster Risk Analysis Center' of the National Disaster Safety Research Institute under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the government will continuously identify large-scale risk factors and work with relevant ministries to improve them.

Minister Lee stated, "It is more important than anything else to quickly identify risk factors on-site in line with the growth of new industries and prepare preventive measures in advance," adding, "The government will collaborate with private experts to establish proactive safety measures that integrate scientific analysis and technology, rather than passively preparing improvement plans after major accidents, and will not neglect efforts to ensure the safe daily lives of the people."