Vice Minister of Land Says "No Gaps Allowed in Safety Management of Joint Utility Tunnels Housing Key Infrastructure"

Jin Hyunhwan, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, inspected the safety management status at the Dunsan Joint Utility Tunnel located in Seo-gu, Daejeon on the 18th. A joint utility tunnel is an underground facility that houses essential urban infrastructure such as electricity, gas, water supply, telecommunications, and sewage systems. These facilities not only improve the urban landscape but also help preserve road structures and facilitate smooth traffic flow. Starting from this day until mid-June, the government has launched a special inspection of large joint utility tunnels nationwide.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, together with local governments, the Korea Infrastructure Safety and Technology Corporation, relevant fire stations, and Korea Electric Power Corporation, has decided to inspect joint utility tunnels located in key areas such as Mok-dong, Yeouido, and Gaepo in Seoul, Haeundae in Busan, and Yeonsu in Incheon. Vice Minister Jin, along with Daejeon City and the Daejeon Facilities Management Corporation, checked for cracks, leaks, condensation, and the ventilation management status of the tunnel structures.

Jin Hyunhwan, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is inspecting the safety management status at Dunsan Joint Utility Tunnel located in Seo-gu, Daejeon on the 18th. Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

In addition, they inspected for any malfunctions in fire facilities such as extinguishing, alarm, and evacuation systems; reviewed whether emergency restoration plans and alternative supply measures for facilities like electricity and water supply were in place; checked for any malfunctions in the integrated control system; and assessed vulnerabilities to external intrusion.

Vice Minister Jin emphasized, "Since joint utility tunnels are buried underground and not directly used by the public, it is easy to become complacent about safety. However, as seen in past disasters such as the KT underground communication tunnel fire and the Goyang hot water pipe rupture, major damage can occur, including the paralysis of urban functions during disasters. There must not be the slightest gap in safety management." He added, "In particular, older and larger tunnels like the Dunsan Joint Utility Tunnel may be more vulnerable to disasters, so please ensure thorough internal and external management."