Pyeongtaek City Conducts Fire Safety Inspections at Traditional Markets Ahead of Lunar New Year

[Suwon Ilbo=Lee Su-won Reporter] Pyeongtaek City announced on the 2nd that it conducted joint inspections with relevant agencies to ensure safety at traditional markets, which experience a surge in visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday.

The joint inspection, held over three days from the 29th to 31st of last month, targeted five traditional markets in the city (Tongbok Market, Anjung Market, Seojeongli Market, Songtan Market, and Pyeongtaek International Central Market).

The joint inspection was composed of a public-private joint inspection team consisting of Pyeongtaek Fire Department, Songtan Fire Department, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, and safety inspection service companies in the electrical and firefighting fields. In cooperation with market merchants associations, the team inspected major facilities and the maintenance status of electrical, gas, and firefighting equipment.

The joint inspection team checked ▲whether fire suppression equipment operates normally ▲whether gas equipment leaks and whether containers are stored appropriately ▲whether electrical residual current circuit breakers operate normally. Based on inspection results, minor issues were corrected on-site, and cases requiring immediate correction were scheduled for repairs and reinforcement in the near future.

In particular, Oh Byeong-gwon, First Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, participated in the joint inspection of Tongbok Market on the 29th, where he inspected fire suppression equipment installed throughout Tongbok Market including fire extinguishers and reel fire hoses, checked the operation of smart detectors inside market shops, and examined arcade opening and closing devices.

A city official stated, "Traditional markets face structural limitations such as maze-like passages and densely packed shops, making it difficult for fire trucks and personnel to enter in case of fire, which could lead to large-scale fires," and added, "It is very important for merchants who stay in markets for extended periods to practice fire prevention safety measures such as using safe heating equipment, avoiding octopus-style outlet usage, and securing fire truck access routes, so active cooperation from merchants is necessary."