KRC Begins Early Detailed Safety Inspections for 923 Agricultural Infrastructure Sites

Advancing Inspection Schedule and Increasing Targets by 37% to Ensure Safety of Agricultural Infrastructure
Starting from Incheon Ganghwa Upper and Lower Reservoirs on the 24th, Swift and Accurate Inspections Conducted Until November

The construction company will conduct detailed safety inspections and assessments on 923 agricultural infrastructure sites starting from the 24th. The photo shows an inspection to check for any subsidence or displacement of riprap on the embankment slope of a reservoir.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Korea Rural Community Corporation began conducting precision safety inspections and checks using specialized personnel and advanced equipment on 923 agricultural infrastructure sites starting from the 24th. This move reflects the increased interest in the safety of social overhead capital (SOC) due to climate change, advancing the inspections that were previously conducted from April to February. The number of inspection targets has also increased by 37% compared to the previous year, and the corporation plans to focus on preventing safety accidents through swift and accurate inspections.

Starting with the inspection of the upper and lower reservoirs in Ganghwa, Incheon Metropolitan City, precision safety inspections and checks will be carried out on 923 sites nationwide (436 reservoirs, 377 pumping stations, 31 embankments, and 79 sluices) until November.

Precision safety inspections involve visual external surveys and material testing conducted every 1 to 3 years according to the Facility Safety Act, with 702 sites targeted this year. Precision safety diagnoses are conducted every 4 to 6 years under the Facility Safety Act and the Rural Development Act. This year, 221 sites are targeted, where detailed external inspections of structures such as cracks and leaks, along with surveying, material testing, and structural safety assessments, will be thoroughly analyzed.

Last year, the corporation conducted precision safety diagnoses and inspections on 647 reservoirs and pumping stations, and seismic performance evaluations were carried out on 27 reservoirs selected under the Earthquake and Volcanic Disaster Countermeasures Act, all of which were confirmed to be in a safe condition.

Additionally, to respond promptly to emergencies, the corporation established the ‘Facility Inspection 119 Center’ within its Safety Diagnosis Division and has been operating it continuously since 2013. It provides free emergency inspections upon request for small-scale, aging, and disaster-risk facilities managed by local governments and others.

So far, emergency inspections have been conducted on 675 disaster-risk infrastructure sites, offering safety management and repair and reinforcement plans to prevent disasters in advance.

President Kim Insik stated, "Since the safety of agricultural infrastructure is directly related to the lives of the people, we will strive for thorough inspections and preparations in advance, strengthen our capabilities to prepare for increasingly complex and large-scale disasters, and focus on meticulous management to ensure there are no safety blind spots."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.