Yeongdeungpo-gu, Winter Fire Vulnerable Facility Safety Inspection

Intensive Fire Safety Inspections at Vulnerable Facilities Including Nursing Homes, Daycare Centers, Traditional Markets, and Goshiwon
Checking Proper Management of Key Fire Safety Equipment Such as Emergency Exits, Evacuation Routes, Fire Extinguishers, and Sprinklers
Joint Inspections with External Experts... Immediate Correction of Deficiencies and Thorough Follow-Up Actions

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it conducted safety inspections targeting fire-vulnerable facilities to prevent winter season safety accidents until December 18.

This inspection was organized to prevent fire accidents that frequently occur during the winter season and to ensure the safety of facilities mainly used by vulnerable groups.

The inspection targets included nursing facilities, daycare centers, lodging businesses, and traditional markets, prioritizing ▲facilities used by safety-vulnerable groups ▲facilities with maze-like layouts that make self-evacuation difficult ▲facilities where large-scale damage is expected in case of fire.

The inspections were thoroughly conducted by forming inspection teams after each facility’s responsible department established its own inspection plan.

The main inspection items consisted of ▲management of fire extinguishers and indoor fire hydrants ▲installation and operation of sprinklers ▲management of emergency exit lights and evacuation exits ▲condition of escape devices such as evacuation chairs and ropes ▲appropriateness of fire doors.

To ensure systematic inspections, the district divided the procedure into three stages. First, each management department conducted a primary self-inspection, followed by a secondary joint inspection with external experts such as fire departments and related organizations as needed.

Choi Ho-gwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, visiting Daerim Central Market to conduct a winter fire safety campaign

If any deficiencies were found during the inspection process, minor issues were immediately corrected and supplemented on-site, while serious issues were addressed with follow-up measures and re-inspected in the first half of next year.

The district is also promoting long-term fire safety measures. According to winter fire statistics over the past five years, fires occurring in residential facilities accounted for 111 cases (33%), the highest proportion among facility types. Accordingly, the district continues its efforts to enhance safety by expanding the installation of “visible fire extinguishers” in narrow alleys within densely populated residential areas and installing fire detectors in vulnerable areas such as jjokbang (small rooms) districts.

Earlier on the 3rd, a “Winter Fire Safety Campaign and Safety Inspection” was conducted at Daerim Jungang Market, a restaurant-dense area with high fire risk. The inspection was carried out as a public-private joint effort with the participation of District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo Fire Station, Daerim Jungang Market Merchants Association, the Autonomous Disaster Prevention Group, and the Foreigners’ Autonomous Crime Prevention Unit.

On that day, Mayor Choi visited restaurants within the market, distributed fire safety promotional materials and food hygiene and safety self-checklists, provided guidance on compliance, and carefully checked the installation status of fire-fighting facilities in fire-vulnerable facilities, urging meticulous management.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “The most important thing in preventing safety accidents is to eliminate risk factors in advance,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to ensure that residents can spend a safe and warm winter through ongoing safety inspections and systematic preventive measures.”