Gwangju Seo-gu to Conduct Safety Inspections of Small-Scale Aging Buildings by April Next Year

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Yi-gang) announced on the 1st that it will conduct safety inspections on small-scale aging buildings to prevent building collapse risks in advance by April next year.

Unlike large-scale buildings that require safety inspections every three years, small-scale buildings do not have mandatory inspection regulations for building owners, so safety management has inevitably been neglected if the owners lack the will to inspect.

However, recently, small-scale aging buildings remaining in the middle of the city, such as redevelopment and reconstruction cancellation areas or residential environment improvement project zones, have increasingly threatened residents' safety.

Accordingly, Seo-gu will conduct free safety inspections on a total of about 400 privately-owned buildings that are over 40 years old, three stories or less, and have a total floor area of 200㎡ or less, based on relevant laws that allow safety inspections to be conducted ex officio.

In the first phase, building experts will visit the sites directly to conduct visual inspections and determine safety grades in five levels (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, Bad) according to the 'Small-scale Aging Building Safety Inspection Checklist,' with minor issues planned to be corrected.

For buildings rated Poor or Bad, a secondary inspection will be conducted by a building management inspection agency according to the small-scale aging building inspection manual, covering structural safety, fire safety, energy performance, and more.

Buildings requiring repairs or reinforcements based on inspection results will be guided so that owners can take appropriate measures, and if urgent action is needed, administrative measures such as usage restrictions or bans will be implemented.

For more details, inquiries can be made to the Accident Response Support Division of Seo-gu Office.

A Seo-gu official said, "Building owners or managers who wish to request additional inspections can apply to the Accident Response Support Division," adding, "We will do our best to create a safe and pleasant residential environment by encouraging active participation from residents in the safety management of small-scale aging buildings."

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho baekok@asiae.co.kr

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