[Inside Chodong] Consecutive Collapses and Fires: Man-Made Disasters Continue as Government Remains Reactive

Another tragic incident resulting in the loss of precious lives has occurred due to a shocking accident that one would expect to see only in underdeveloped countries. Just days after a building under demolition collapsed in Gwangju, causing 17 casualties, a large fire broke out at the Coupang logistics center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, where a veteran firefighter died while extinguishing the blaze. These incidents are all the more regrettable because they could have been entirely prevented if the management and supervisory agencies had taken safety measures in advance.

The Gwangju accident, where a building under demolition collapsed onto a city bus parked by the roadside, revealed that there was no supervisor overseeing the entire demolition process on site, nor was there any road control. A cloth barrier was the only safety measure in place. The demolition company subcontracted the work to a small-scale firm, and the demolition plan lacked even the basic installation of support structures. Police investigations and other inquiries have revealed that this was a man-made disaster caused by a combination of illegal subcontracting practices in the redevelopment demolition industry, unlawful demolition methods aimed at cost-cutting, and lax management and inspection by administrative authorities.

The risks of warehouse accidents like the Coupang fire have also been repeatedly pointed out. Warehouses are enclosed spaces filled with flammable materials such as cardboard boxes and plastic, and their internal structures are designed like mazes, making fire suppression difficult in emergencies. The ceiling height is higher than that of typical buildings, so even when sprinklers activate, they only wet the upper shelves, leaving the middle and lower parts untouched, making it hard to control the flames. Conveyor belts and other equipment for transporting goods are intricately arranged between shelves, making it difficult to install firewalls. Both accidents are cited as microcosms of chronic safety negligence.

Since his inauguration, President Moon Jae-in has emphasized the creation of a "Safe Republic of Korea" capable of constant disaster response. However, contrary to the president’s commitment, large-scale accidents continue unabated. In December 2017, 15 people died or were injured in a fishing boat accident off Yeongheungdo, Incheon; 29 people lost their lives in a fire at a sports center in Jecheon, Chungbuk; and in January 2018, 45 people died in a fire at Sejong Hospital in Miryang, Gyeongnam. In April last year, a fire broke out during the construction of the Han Express logistics warehouse in Icheon, claiming 38 lives. These accidents share common factors such as chronic safety negligence, poor management and inspection, and inadequate initial response. There is no better way to describe them than as "predictable man-made disasters." After the recent incident, President Moon expressed condolences and stated, "We will devise the best possible measures, including recurrence prevention plans," but given that nothing has changed, his remarks are likely to be seen as too little, too late and merely an attempt to deflect responsibility.

Every time a major disaster occurs, the government only offers grand promises such as comprehensive investigations and recurrence prevention measures. What is crucial in preventing safety accidents is the routine implementation and inspection of relevant laws and regulations, not government measures that appear only after the fact as a way to avoid blame. A "Safe Republic of Korea" will not be achieved automatically. It requires sincere reflection, the establishment of safety rules, and measures to raise safety awareness. I hope the Moon administration, which after the Sewol ferry disaster seven years ago declared that "safety negligence and complacency are the representative evils we must eradicate," seriously reflects on what it has done to correct these issues so far.

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