Disaster safety chief urges thorough oversight from related agencies

The Ministry of Interior and Safety, together with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, inspected safety management of fishing boats at Ocheon Port in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, in May. (Ministry of Interior and Safety)
The Ministry of Interior and Safety, together with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, inspected safety management of fishing boats at Ocheon Port in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, in May. (Ministry of Interior and Safety)

The government has launched on-site safety inspections ahead of the chuseok holiday, anticipating a rise in ferry passengers and anglers.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety said Wednesday that Kim Kwang-yong, head of its disaster and safety management headquarters, visited Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, to check safety management of ferries and fishing boats.

During the inspection, Kim toured key facilities at the Pohang Coastal Passenger Terminal, including the waiting area and boarding passageways, and reviewed crowd-flow management measures for peak congestion as well as the condition of emergency evacuation facilities and firefighting equipment.

He also visited a nearby fishing boat mooring area to check safety conditions, including the availability of life jackets and whether firefighting equipment was functioning properly.

"We will work with related agencies to build a tight maritime safety net covering everything from crowd management at multiuse facilities like terminals to the safety of fishing boats, so that the public can enjoy a full and worry-free chuseok," Kim said. "I ask that both on-site workers and passengers prioritize safety above all, follow basic safety rules such as wearing life jackets, and have a safe holiday."


thlee@heraldcorp.com