National Fire Agency to inspect 512 high-rise and underground-linked complex buildings

[Financial News]  
The National Fire Agency (NFA) will conduct a comprehensive inspection of disaster response conditions at 512 high-rise and underground-linked complex buildings nationwide. It will focus on whether buildings can evacuate their occupants on their own before firefighters arrive in the event of a fire, and whether evacuation facilities are being properly maintained.
The NFA announced on the 11th that it will conduct a six-week inspection of disaster response and support systems for the second half of 2026, targeting 376 complexes nationwide from the 5th through the 17th of next month.
The inspection covers 143 high-rise buildings and 369 underground-linked complex buildings. Local governments will assess safety management at all buildings, while major facilities with a high risk of disaster or in need of safety inspections will be jointly inspected by the NFA, local governments and private-sector experts.
The inspection will focus on the makeup of each building’s initial response team, which is responsible for responding to fires in their early stages, and whether the team has received training and taken part in exercises. The key question is whether the team can quickly alert people to a fire and safely evacuate occupants before firefighters arrive.
Inspectors will also examine the management of evacuation safety zones, which serve as temporary shelters in the event of a fire, and the operation of integrated disaster prevention control rooms, which monitor and control fire protection and disaster prevention equipment inside buildings. Evacuation plans for people vulnerable to disasters, including older adults and people with disabilities, are also subject to inspection.
If violations of laws or regulations are found, administrative measures will be taken, including corrective orders or fines. Inspectors will guide on-site improvements for minor management shortcomings and consider incorporating matters requiring institutional improvements into relevant laws and regulations.
Song Ho-young, director general of the Fire Prevention Bureau at the National Fire Agency, said, “High-rise buildings have complex internal layouts and large numbers of occupants, making rapid communication of information and systematic evacuation guidance important when a disaster occurs. We will check whether disaster response systems on site are operating properly and make improvements where needed.”


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