District runs seven rounds of inspections across 23 sites from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7, expanding use of private experts and advance public notice to fix last year's shortcomings, with alley-type shopping street checks sharply expanded
Gwangjin-gu conducted joint safety inspections of traditional markets and alley shopping streets ahead of the upcoming Chuseok holiday. The checks aimed to prevent fire and other safety accidents and let residents shop at traditional markets with peace of mind.
The district carried out intensive safety inspections at a total of 23 traditional markets and alley shopping streets over seven rounds from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7. The deputy district mayor, staff from relevant departments and numerous private-sector experts across various fields took part, focusing their efforts on eliminating safety blind spots.
This year's inspections centered on addressing issues identified in last year's checks and raising the level of expertise applied to the process.
The district increased the number of participating private experts and carried out customized inspections tailored to the characteristics of each market, boosting the substance of the checks. It also gave market merchant associations ample advance notice and publicity to ensure the inspections went smoothly.
The scope of the inspections was also greatly expanded. While only one alley-type shopping street was inspected last year, that number grew to nine this year, bringing the total number of sites checked to 23. This strengthened the safety net across alley commercial districts as a whole.
Inspection teams closely examined sites across four key areas: fire safety, electrical systems, gas and facilities. They checked whether fire-fighting equipment was in place and open flames properly managed, and whether electrical systems were properly grounded and equipped with circuit breakers. They also checked whether gas leaks were absent and containers stored appropriately, and whether key structures showed signs of aging or cracking.
For minor issues found during the inspections, the district immediately corrected them on-site. For cases requiring repair or reinforcement, it plans to share the findings promptly with merchant associations and follow up thoroughly to confirm that corrective action has been taken.
"Ensuring the safety of traditional markets and alley shopping streets, which many citizens visit during the holiday, is our top priority," said Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho. "Through thorough advance inspections and swift follow-up measures, we will do everything we can to ensure that both merchants and visitors can enjoy a safe and comfortable holiday."
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