Fines for Non-Compliance with Apartment Household Inspections... Grace Period Extended by One Year

Self-Inspection of Fire Safety Facilities in Apartment Buildings with Five or More Floors
Consideration for Long-Term Absences and Economic Burden on Working-Class Residents

The National Fire Agency announced on December 19 that it will extend the grace period for imposing fines on non-compliance with household inspections in apartment complexes by one more year, until the end of next year. The original grace period was set to expire on November 30 this year.

The agency explained that this decision was made because there are still cases where household inspections have not been completed due to long-term absences, and in consideration of the financial burden on the working class caused by the economic downturn.

The National Fire Agency has decided to extend the grace period for imposing fines on non-compliance with household inspections in apartment complexes by one more year, taking into account long-term absentee households and the financial burden on the working class. The Asia Business Daily

Household inspections in apartment complexes refer to a system in which residents of multi-family housing with five or more floors, such as apartments, inspect the fire safety facilities within their own units and submit the results.

The National Fire Agency had already granted a grace period for fines from December 1 last year to November 30 this year, judging that an initial adaptation period was necessary for the new system. In addition, in response to concerns that excessive fines could be a burden on residents, the agency significantly reduced the maximum fine from 3 million won to 500,000 won.

The agency is also considering further reducing the fine to around 100,000 won during the additional grace period for groups in need of social protection, such as basic livelihood security recipients and elderly people living alone, as it recognizes that fines could be a burden for these groups.

Kim Seungryong, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, stated, "Household inspections in apartment complexes are an essential safety measure to protect the lives of ourselves and our neighbors," and added, "We will focus on support and public awareness rather than regulation, so that the system can take root smoothly in the field, and will pursue fire safety policies that resonate with the public."