Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam, Orders Emergency Safety Inspection of Facilities During Thawing Season

Jeollanam-do to Begin On-Site Inspections Starting on the 27th

Jeonnam Province will conduct safety inspections of 11,900 vulnerable facilities during the thawing season until the 6th of next month. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, who is currently visiting the United States, issued an urgent directive on the 26th following an accident at the Sejong-Anseong Expressway construction site, stating, "Conduct intensive safety inspections of vulnerable facilities during the thawing season to proactively identify and eliminate risk factors."

Accordingly, Jeollanam-do has designated the period from the 27th to March 6th as the intensive safety inspection period for vulnerable facilities during the thawing season, and will conduct safety inspections on 11,900 vulnerable facilities across eight sectors.

The thawing season is a period when the ground, frozen during winter, begins to thaw and weaken, raising particular concerns about safety accidents such as facility collapses or overturning.

During this inspection period, the focus will be on steep slopes, landslide-prone areas, mountain solar power facilities, reservoirs, trade ports, local fishing ports, bridges, and large construction sites.

The main inspection items include: ▲ Cracks, subsidence, and signs of collapse on steep slopes and embankments due to freezing and thawing during the thawing season ▲ Cracks and ground subsidence in facility structures and implementation of safety management plans ▲ At construction sites, compliance with safety management for temporary structures, ground subsidence near construction sites, monitoring of retaining walls, and deformation of formwork and supports before concrete pouring.

Jeollanam-do will immediately address issues that can be resolved on-site, while items that require more time will be improved gradually through mid- to long-term plans to establish permanent preventive measures.

Facilities with a high risk of accidents will be subject to swift safety measures such as usage restrictions, prohibition of use, or suspension of construction. Sites with cracks, ground subsidence, or risk of collapse will undergo safety assessments for repair and reinforcement.

Kang Younggu, Director of Resident Safety at Jeollanam-do, stated, "As facilities and construction sites are becoming larger in scale, accidents can lead to significant human and material losses. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and address safety hazards in advance."