AI Fire Prevention System in Jjokbangchon... "I Feel Safe"

"Fires in Jjokbangchon: 50.9% Caused by Electrical Issues"
Pilot Project Leads to Expansion to Other Areas

"Now we can prevent fires more thoroughly. I feel much more at ease than before."

Around 10 a.m. on the 17th, a view of a one-room village located in Donui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Shim Sung-ah

On the afternoon of the 19th, Hong (63), whom we met in the Donui-dong jjokbangchon in Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "Each house only has one two-socket outlet, so using a multi-tap is essential. Since we use old home appliances, they overheat quickly," adding, "I always lived anxiously, fearing a fire might break out." Lee Jeong-ja (84), who has lived in the jjokbangchon for 50 years, said, "We use electric mats a lot in winter, but there is always a fire risk," and added, "It's a relief that a fire prevention system has been installed in every building."

Donui-dong jjokbangchon is a small village where 730 rooms are closely packed together. Most buildings are made of wood or plywood, so even a small fire can quickly spread and cause significant damage. According to Seoul City, electrical causes such as power line overload and aging account for 50.9% of fires occurring in jjokbangchon. For this reason, 24-hour fire prevention IoT sensors have been installed.

Around 11 a.m. on the 17th, an employee of the Dongbangchon Counseling Center in Donui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is seen monitoring using a smart electric fire prevention system. Photo by Shim Seong-a

An official from the Donui-dong Jjokbang Counseling Center stated, "Since installation last month, we are currently collecting three months' worth of electricity usage data from each household," and explained, "By monitoring the electrical flow 24 hours a day, if an abnormality occurs, it immediately sends an alert to the staff, allowing us to identify risks in advance and take appropriate action at the right time."

The fire prevention IoT sensors are planned to be introduced in other locations following the pilot project. Yoon Jong-jang, Director of Welfare at Seoul City, emphasized, "Jjokbangchon has a high risk of fire due to aging electrical facilities, and fires can cause extensive damage when they occur," adding, "We will closely monitor the safety of jjokbangchon, a fire-vulnerable area, through IoT smart sensors that detect electricity usage 24 hours a day."