Yangcheon-gu in Seoul is launching a safety inspection and repair project targeting vulnerable households to strengthen residential safety for low-income residents and prevent accidents and disasters in everyday life.
The district will conduct safety inspections and repairs at more than 650 households this year. The primary targets are households relatively more exposed to safety accidents and disasters — including basic livelihood recipients, near-poverty households, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Households that previously received inspections or repairs may also qualify for follow-up support if their after-service period has expired or if aging facilities pose a significant accident risk.
A "Safety and Welfare Consulting Team" composed of electrical and gas specialists will visit each eligible household to check for problems with electrical wiring and circuit breakers, gas facilities and boilers. Aging or defective facilities identified during inspections will be replaced or repaired as needed.
This year, the district will also provide cooling items such as electric fans and cooling mats in addition to safety inspections and repairs. During visits, residents will receive education on everyday safety practices — including fire prevention and gas leak prevention — to help build safer daily habits.
The district conducted a demand survey through neighborhood community centers and welfare centers starting in April, and assembled the consulting team with preliminary training. On-site inspections and repairs began last month and will continue through November, proceeding sequentially based on each household's circumstances. After visits, the district plans to conduct satisfaction surveys and carry out follow-up inspections where necessary.
Since launching the project in 2008, the district has provided safety inspections and repairs to a cumulative total of 14,348 households. By category, electrical work — including replacement of aging circuit breakers and wiring — accounted for the largest share of support, followed by gas-related work such as gas timer installations, then fire safety support including firefighting equipment.
Last year, the district supported a total of 892 households, carrying out 144 electrical cases, 148 gas cases, 157 fire safety cases, 41 boiler cases and 402 cases involving other safety items, addressing hazards specific to each household's conditions.
"Even small hazards in daily life can lead to serious accidents if left unaddressed, which is why advance inspection and prevention are paramount," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said. "We will continue to carefully identify risk factors in the everyday lives of vulnerable households and sustain practical safety support projects, so that every resident of Yangcheon can live with peace of mind in a safe district."
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