Surging Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Safety Takes a Back Seat

Nonghyup, Suhyup, and the National Forestry Cooperative Federation Lack Fire Suppression Equipment
Seo Samsuk: "Urgent Need for Prevention Manuals and Integrated Management"

Seosamsuk, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

As the adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly increasing and charging infrastructure is expanding, concerns have been raised about inadequate safety management at electric vehicle charging stations operated by quasi-public institutions such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, and National Forestry Cooperative Federation.

On October 25, Seosamsuk, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker representing Yeongam, Muan, and Shinan in South Jeolla Province, revealed through audit materials submitted by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and others that these organizations have failed to equip their charging stations with even the most basic equipment for extinguishing electric vehicle fires, expressing concern for public safety.

According to Assemblyman Seo’s analysis, not a single one of the 57 electric vehicle charging stations (a total of 114 chargers) operated nationwide by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation is equipped with essential fire suppression tools such as fire blankets or upward-spraying extinguishing equipment for electric vehicle fires.

What is even more concerning is that the majority of these charging stations are installed in multi-use facilities such as Hanaro Mart or gas stations. Experts warn that if an electric vehicle fire were to occur at a Hanaro Mart, which is used by more than 2,000 people on average per day, there is a very high risk of mass casualties.

It was also revealed that the headquarters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation did not have an accurate grasp of the status of charging stations entrusted to local cooperatives. After a belated full-scale survey, it was found that out of 362 charging stations nationwide, only 8 stations (2.2%) were equipped with fire blankets or lithium fire extinguishers.

In particular, there are warnings that the fourth basement level of the Southwestern Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Department Store, where five chargers are installed, is at risk of severe damage in the event of a fire, as there is no fire suppression equipment available. Similarly, Nonghyup Bank has equipped only 2 out of its 34 charging stations with fire suppression equipment, and in reality, there are no substantial fire suppression facilities in place.

The problem is not limited to the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation. The National Forestry Cooperative Federation has not provided fire suppression equipment at any of its 12 charging stations, including its headquarters. The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives has also shown inadequate management, having installed overload protection devices on only 24 out of 65 chargers. At the Noryangjin Fish Market, a high-traffic multi-use facility, only 4 out of 42 chargers are equipped with overload protection devices, putting public safety at serious risk.

Assemblyman Seo stated, "The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation must prioritize the lives and safety of the public over the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure," and added, "Charging stations in multi-use facilities such as Hanaro Mart and Nonghyup Bank must be equipped with fire suppression equipment and prevention manuals."

He further emphasized, "The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, and National Forestry Cooperative Federation must establish an integrated system for facility, operation, and safety management at the headquarters level, and promptly prepare safety management measures focused on prevention."