Public-private inspections cover three shopping districts — Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street, Garakgol and Gaerongol
Songpa-gu in Seoul is carrying out preemptive fire prevention inspections ahead of the Chuseok holiday to ensure local shopping districts are safe for residents to visit.
On Monday, the district conducted joint public-private inspections at three shopping areas expected to draw large crowds during the holiday season: Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street, Garakgol alley shopping district and Gaerongol alley shopping district.
The inspections brought together the Songpa Fire Station, outside experts in electricity, gas and fire safety, and merchant associations familiar with the local scene to form a joint inspection team. Using specialized equipment for each field, the team identified fire hazards and closely examined safety management conditions.
Given the densely packed nature of the shopping districts, inspectors focused particularly on individual storefronts, checking kitchen gas safety, whether electrical wiring and circuit breakers were functioning properly, and whether flammable materials had been stored or left unattended.
The team also conducted detailed on-site checks of shared facilities that could turn a small incident into a large fire, including electrical overload risks in large signage and lighting equipment as well as whether evacuation routes inside buildings were kept clear.
In addition, officials provided merchants with hands-on training on initial response measures and how to use fire extinguishers in the event of a fire, and guided merchant associations on drawing up a self-inspection checklist so they could take the lead in blocking fire risks after closing time each day.
The district plans to immediately correct minor issues found during the joint inspection on-site, and it will continuously track facility repairs and reinforcements to ensure they are completed before the Chuseok holiday.
The district also carried out two rounds of safety inspections at traditional markets earlier this year and has been managing them intensively with the help of outside experts to ensure residents' safety ahead of the holiday.
Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Kang-seok said, "Chuseok is a time when more residents than usual visit shopping districts, so we will work together with related agencies and merchant associations to eliminate fire risks in advance." He added, "Through thorough fire prevention efforts, we will create pleasant shopping districts that any resident can visit with peace of mind, and we will also actively work to boost the local economy during the holiday season."
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