"Traditional Market Safety Starts On Site"... Vice Minister Lee Byungkwon Leads Safety Inspection

On-site Inspection at Kkachisan Market in Seoul
"Merchants Should Regularly Inspect Overall Market Safety"

Lee Byungkwon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, visited Kkachisan Market in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on January 7 to conduct a campaign for winter fire prevention, including a safety inspection and the distribution of safety supplies. He also engaged in on-site communication with the merchants' association and relevant professional organizations.

He first discussed ways to enhance the expertise and effectiveness of traditional market safety inspections in a meeting attended by professional inspection agencies and merchants. During the subsequent safety inspection, major safety facilities such as distribution panels and fire hydrants were checked in cooperation with professional organizations, including the Korea Fire Protection Association and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation. He identified fire risk factors specific to the winter season on site, distributed firefighting equipment such as automatic fire-extinguishing power strips, and reviewed the overall state of safety management.

Lee Byungkwon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is conducting a fire prevention campaign on the 7th at Kkachisan Market in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

The Vice Minister stated, "Continuous on-site management and participation are key to ensuring the safety of traditional markets," adding, "There is a need to strengthen the role of professional organizations in future safety inspections and to shift toward a safety management system in which merchants regularly inspect and manage not only their own stores but also the overall market." He also emphasized the importance of fire insurance for swift recovery in the event of a fire and actively encouraged merchants to enroll in such coverage.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups is supporting the installation of fire prevention facilities in traditional markets through its Traditional Market Safety Management Package program.