Unannounced Inspections at Marts, Department Stores and Airports Ahead of Chuseok: “Strict Action Against Blocked Emergency Exits”

[Financial News] Unannounced nationwide fire-safety inspections will be conducted at crowded facilities, including large supermarkets, department stores, cinemas, railway stations and airports, ahead of the Chuseok holiday. Authorities will focus on illegal acts that could hinder evacuation and initial response in the event of a fire, such as blocking emergency exits or shutting off power to firefighting facilities.
The National Fire Agency (NFA) announced on the 17th that fire stations nationwide will conduct simultaneous, unannounced inspections at the same time before and after the Chuseok holiday.
The inspections will cover retail facilities such as large supermarkets, shopping centers and department stores, as well as cinemas and comprehensive passenger facilities, including intercity bus terminals, railway stations, airports and ports. Checks will focus on facilities expected to see a sharp increase in visitors due to holiday travel and preparations.
Fire authorities will check whether power to firefighting facilities has been cut off or systems have been tampered with, and whether interconnected functions have been disabled. They will also closely inspect cases in which emergency exits or other evacuation and fire-protection facilities have been closed or damaged, as well as acts that obstruct evacuation by storing items in stairways, corridors and other evacuation routes.
Rather than merely checking the condition of the facilities, inspectors will focus on conduct that could delay initial response or the evacuation of visitors in an actual fire and thereby increase the risk of casualties.
If serious violations, such as blocking emergency exits or cutting power to firefighting facilities, are found, authorities plan to refer the cases for criminal investigation or impose administrative fines in accordance with the relevant laws.
Fire-safety inspections for facility managers will also be conducted. They will be asked to carry out self-checks to ensure that firefighting facilities operate normally and that emergency exits and evacuation routes remain accessible. On-site consultations will also be provided on initial response procedures and how to evacuate visitors in the event of a fire.
Song Ho-young, director of the NFA’s Fire Prevention Bureau, said, "Because more people than usual use these facilities at the same time during the Chuseok holiday, even a minor lapse in safety management can lead to major casualties if a fire breaks out. Emergency exits and evacuation routes must be kept clear and available for use at all times, and firefighting facilities must be carefully maintained so that they can always operate normally."


[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter