Uijeongbu City, Rapid Response to Safety Accidents at Uijeongbu Indoor Gymnasium

Roofs Vulnerable to Load... Risk Exposed to Wet Snow This Winter
Temporary Suspension of Use Until Repairs and Reinforcement in 2025

Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) announced on the 3rd that it is responding swiftly to safety accidents by temporarily suspending the use of the Uijeongbu Indoor Gymnasium as of the 28th of last month.

A view of Uijeongbu City Hall. Provided by Uijeongbu City.

Earlier, the city conducted a detailed safety inspection of the Uijeongbu Indoor Gymnasium this year in accordance with the "Special Act on the Safety and Maintenance of Facilities" (hereinafter referred to as the Facility Safety Act).

The city found that some roof structural members were already sagging, and especially that the load-bearing capacity had deteriorated. Based on the results indicating that wet snow in winter (heavy, compact snow with high moisture content) poses a risk, the city took emergency safety measures pursuant to Article 23 of the Facility Safety Act.

In particular, considering that snow exceeding 12cm had accumulated on the gymnasium roof since November 27, the forecast of heavy wet snow this winter, and the lack of appropriate snow removal methods due to the gymnasium roof structure, the city took these measures.

Once the ongoing seismic performance evaluation of the indoor gymnasium is completed, detailed design and repair and reinforcement work will be carried out next year. The gymnasium will remain temporarily closed until the construction is finished.

Mayor Kim Dong-geun stated, “We will take thorough measures to ensure that citizens can safely use the Uijeongbu Indoor Gymnasium by carrying out repairs and reinforcements quickly and thoroughly.”

The “KB Insurance Stars Volleyball Team,” currently participating in the “2024-2025 V-League,” is exploring various temporary venues such as the Kyungmin University Indoor Gymnasium instead of the Uijeongbu Indoor Gymnasium, their home court, for the remaining home games.