Mayor Joyongik of Bucheon "Full Effort to Support Hotel Fire Victims and Prepare Countermeasures"

Gyeonggi Bucheon City announced that it will make every effort to support victims and establish countermeasures related to the Bucheon hotel fire incident, which resulted in 19 casualties.

On the 23rd, Bucheon Mayor Jo Yong-ik held a press conference at the city hall briefing room and said, "I express my deep condolences and sympathy to the seven victims and the bereaved families who will go through a difficult time in great sorrow," adding, "We will mobilize all resources to support the victims and do our best for a swift resolution of the accident."

Mayor Jo stated, "We will assign one public official to each fire victim to provide thorough support from the funeral to the departure," and "All funeral procedures will be fully discussed with the bereaved families."

He also added, "For the injured, we will provide support without neglect through hospital admission and discharge management, guidance to treatment institutions, and consultations with related organizations for medical expense payments."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (center) and Bucheon Mayor Jo Yong-ik (left) are inspecting the fire site at a hotel in Jung-dong, Bucheon on the 22nd.
[Photo by Bucheon City]

Bucheon City formed a Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters about two hours after the fire broke out the previous day and discussed support measures. They also established a dedicated organization called the 'Disaster Victim Support Center' and formed a task force to provide treatment, funeral, and legal support.

Regarding criticism that the absence of sprinklers worsened the accident, Mayor Jo said, "The hotel where the fire occurred was completed in 2003, and it was not subject to mandatory sprinkler installation," adding, "We are checking whether the hotel where the fire occurred violated the Building Act or other regulations."

Due to amendments in related laws, sprinklers have been required on every floor of all newly constructed buildings with six or more floors since 2017, but the installation obligation has not been applied retroactively except for some medical institutions.

The fire occurred at around 7:34 p.m. on the 22nd at a nine-story hotel in Jung-dong, Bucheon, resulting in seven deaths and 12 injuries.

Among the 12 injured, three were initially reported as seriously injured, but one was reclassified as minor injury. As a result, except for two seriously injured patients, the remaining 10 injured have all been discharged.