Asbestos Found in Yongsan Children's Garden... Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Says "Safety Standards Met" [2024 National Audit]

by Park SeungUk

Published 24 Oct.2024 17:16(KST)

Minister Park Sang-woo: "The Public Does Not Need to Be Anxious"

Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated that "definite safety measures have been confirmed" in response to concerns about the discovery of high-concentration asbestos materials in a building within Yongsan Children's Garden.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo is speaking at the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit held at the National Assembly in Seoul on the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of the 24th, during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit held in Yeouido, Seoul, Minister Park responded to Rep. Bok Gi-wang of the Democratic Party's question urging to "postpone the temporary opening of the park," saying, "There is no need for major concern. There will be no postponement of the opening."

On that day, Rep. Bok stated, "Although it is said that facilities where asbestos has not been removed were managed by closure, there is a very high risk of dispersion," adding, "Children have entered and official events have been held for 1 year and 2 months in this condition." He further criticized, "The Presidential Office pressured to open the garden quickly, leading to a project contrary to children's safety."

According to Rep. Bok, asbestos was found in 9 out of 24 remaining buildings within the open area of Yongsan Children's Garden. Asbestos cloth containing 85% white asbestos, insulation material containing 60%, and asbestos pipes containing 15% were discovered. Asbestos is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2009 and has been completely banned from manufacture and use in South Korea.

In response, Minister Park said, "A joint environmental survey with the United States was conducted, and after environmental safety measures such as covering were implemented, the area was opened. Inspections are conducted regularly," adding, "Creating anxiety is not very desirable."

He continued, "It has already been opened and used by hundreds of thousands of people," and added, "I am confident that the public does not need to be worried." He also promised to prepare detailed data and materials on objective data and the handling process so far to explain to the public.

Meanwhile, Yongsan Children's Garden was created on the site returned from the U.S. military base as the Presidential Office relocated to Yongsan, and it was opened in May of last year.