"Expanding Fire and Crime Blind Spots in Unmanned Stores"... Daegu City Councilor Jongwoo Ryu Urges Countermeasures

On June 5, Daegu City Councilor Jongwoo Ryu (People Power Party, Buk-gu District 1) called for the establishment of countermeasures to address fire, crime, and food hygiene issues arising from the rapid increase in unmanned stores, through a written municipal administration inquiry.

Councilor Ryu stated, "The number of unmanned stores has increased more than fourfold over the past three years, and the types of businesses have diversified beyond simple display and sales to include gyms, cafes, and food preparation shops." He emphasized, "It is urgent to prepare proactive measures for complex risks such as fire response, vulnerability to crime, and blind spots in hygiene management."

Daegu City Councilor Jongwoo Ryu

First, regarding fire prevention, Councilor Ryu pointed out, "Unmanned stores are at significant risk of damage spreading in the event of a fire due to the absence of on-site managers, making initial response difficult." He asked whether Daegu City systematically manages fire statistics for unmanned stores within its jurisdiction, whether installation standards and applicable regulations for fire safety facilities in each unmanned store have been established, and whether fire prevention measures have been formulated and implemented.

Second, regarding crime prevention, he noted, "Crimes targeting unmanned stores have increased more than threefold in 2023 compared to 2021, and the structure of these stores makes it particularly easy for youths to be exposed to crimes such as theft." He inquired about the current crime prevention measures being promoted by Daegu City, customized policies for the protection of children and adolescents, and whether preventive administrative guidance is being provided to business owners.

Third, concerning food hygiene management, he pointed out, "Unmanned stores face greater challenges in hygiene management due to the diversity of foods handled and the characteristics of their business operations." He asked whether Daegu City has effective hygiene management measures in place, such as systems for managing food past its consumption date and monitoring and inspection frameworks to block hazardous foods.

Councilor Jongwoo Ryu stated, "Unmanned stores are convenient spaces closely connected to citizens' daily lives, but without ensuring safety, they can lead to harm for citizens." He added, "I look forward to Daegu City taking active steps to create an environment where citizens can use these stores with peace of mind."