Seoul, South Korea – A recent nationwide inspection of underground parking lots in apartment buildings has uncovered 1,312 fire safety violations across 876 complexes, the National Fire Agency announced on December 29.
The inspection, conducted over a three-month period from August 21, targeted 5,447 out of 15,467 apartment complexes equipped with sprinkler systems. Inspectors found numerous violations, including inoperable sprinklers, tampered fire alarms, and damaged fire doors.
Of the total violations, 62 resulted in fines, 1,245 were subject to corrective orders, and five were reported to relevant authorities. Common violations included:
Sprinklers failing to discharge water when activated
Tampering with fire alarm systems to prevent automatic activation
Damaged fire doors in underground parking lot entrances
Negligence by fire safety managers
Communication failures in fire alarm control panels
In addition to the inspections, the fire agency conducted educational campaigns for building managers and residents, focusing on self-inspection checklists, fire safety consultations, and emergency evacuation planning using a mobile app.
"We urge apartment building managers and residents to prioritize regular self-inspections and ensure that fire safety equipment and evacuation routes are always maintained," said Hong Young-geun, director-general of the National Fire Agency's Fire Prevention Bureau.
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