Rep. Kim Ye-ji offers rare thanks during National Fire Agency audit: “Swift on-site inspections immediately after concerns were raised”

[Financial News]  
Rep. Kim Ye-ji of the People Power Party, who raised concerns about fire safety at psychiatric hospitals during a parliamentary audit, publicly thanked the National Fire Agency for its swift follow-up. The agency had urgently inspected 254 psychiatric hospitals nationwide immediately after her concerns were raised and developed improvement measures with relevant ministries.
Rep. Kim, a member of the National Assembly’s Security and Public Administration Committee, presented the results of an inspection of fire safety at psychiatric hospitals during a comprehensive audit of the National Fire Agency and other agencies on the 26th, saying, “You have achieved a very encouraging result.”
At an earlier parliamentary audit, Rep. Kim called for improved safety standards, saying that door locks and fixed bars in locked wards could impede patients’ evacuation in the event of a fire. In particular, she called for measures, developed together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, that take into account the needs of patients who have difficulty evacuating on their own.
In response, from the 12th to the 15th, the National Fire Agency conducted inspections at 254 psychiatric hospitals nationwide, with the fire station responsible for each area visiting the sites in person.
The inspections found that at 39 hospitals, doors would not open automatically in the event of a fire, meaning staff would have to open them manually. Six hospitals did not have sprinklers, while 16 had them only in some facilities. Of the six hospitals without sprinklers, five were built before the installation standards were revised, and one had failed to install them despite being required to do so.
“The National Fire Agency directly identified critical evacuation vulnerabilities at the sites,” Rep. Kim said. “I believe this is very significant.”
Rep. Kim praised the agency for conducting on-site inspections and developing improvement measures during the audit period. She also thanked the National Fire Agency commissioner and the relevant officials who took part in the inspections.
In consultation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Fire Agency included in its improvement measures revisions to standards for the automatic opening of doors in a fire, procedures to help physically restrained patients evacuate, and joint drills.
However, actual facility improvements will require revisions to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s guidelines and funding. Rep. Kim said, “Revisions to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s guidelines and funding are necessary. You can’t do that alone, Commissioner,” urging the relevant ministries to cooperate and saying she would also follow up on the measures.
[email protected] Lee Bomi Reporter