Songpa-gu Conducts Disaster Response Inspection for Super High-Rise and Underground-Connected Complex Buildings

Inspection of 10 High-Rise and Underground Complex Buildings from November 25 to December 13
Joint Inspection of Lotte World Tower on the 26th of Last Month... City and District Officials, Fire Agency, and External Experts Participated
Careful On-Site Review of Initial Response Team Status, Safety Measures for Vulnerable Groups, and Evacuation Guidance Zones

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it will conduct a disaster response and support system inspection for a total of 10 buildings, including supertall buildings and underground-connected complex buildings, by the 13th.

“Supertall buildings” refer to buildings with 50 floors or more, or buildings over 200 meters tall according to the Building Act. “Underground-connected complex buildings” are buildings with 11 floors or more, or with a daily capacity of 5,000 people or more, connected to underground stations, shopping malls, etc.

The district confirms the disaster response and support system status of these buildings twice a year, in the first and second half of the year, in accordance with relevant laws.

On the 26th of last month, district officials along with representatives from Seoul City and the Fire Agency visited the Lotte World Tower & Mall (300 Olympic-ro) for a joint inspection. This building is the only supertall building in the district and a representative inspection target as an underground-connected complex building.

Lotte Mall Inspection

On the day of the inspection, the inspection team examined the operation status of the Lotte World Tower’s self-defense fire brigade (initial disaster response team), safety management measures for vulnerable groups (a system designating evacuation guides among tenant companies within the tower), and conducted a comprehensive safety system inspection including checking fire-fighting equipment in evacuation guidance zones.

The district plans to complete the status survey of the remaining nine buildings by the 13th and carry out follow-up measures. Minor violations found during the inspection will be required to be corrected immediately on site, and if illegal matters are detected, actions will be taken according to relevant laws.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Songpa-gu is a safety-leading city that has received the ‘International Safe City’ certification four consecutive times, the first among basic local governments nationwide,” and added, “As the tallest building in the country is located in the heart of the city, we will do our best to protect residents from large-scale casualties and strictly manage risk factors.”