Nationwide Fire Safety Inspections to Be Conducted at 536 Museums and Art Galleries
by Kim Youngwon
Published 04 Feb.2025 10:00(KST)
Fire at the National Hangeul Museum on the 1st prompts action
Inspection of fire safety facilities and their operation
Evacuation drills for stored and exhibited items also conducted
Fire prevention measures will be taken by inspecting the proper operation of fire safety facilities at national public museums and art galleries across the country.
The National Fire Agency announced that from the 4th to the 28th of this month, it will conduct a fire safety inspection of museums and art galleries. The inspection targets a total of 536 locations, including 450 national public museums and 86 art galleries nationwide.
This inspection was initiated following a fire that occurred on the 1st at the National Hangeul Museum in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The purpose is to protect cultural properties, which are part of the collections, from fire and other disasters. The fire completely destroyed the 3rd and 4th floors of the National Hangeul Museum, necessitating the relocation of the stored artifacts.
The fire safety inspection teams from fire stations nationwide will conduct the inspections; however, in cases where national treasures and valuables are stored, the inspection will be carried out jointly with related departments such as cultural heritage offices, local governments, and relevant agencies including electricity and gas authorities.
The inspection will focus on fire safety, architecture, electrical, and gas sectors. It will check ▲whether fire safety facilities are functioning properly ▲whether evacuation plans are established and fire drills conducted ▲accessibility for fire trucks in emergencies ▲maintenance status of fire compartments and evacuation facilities.
City and provincial fire headquarters will also provide fire safety consulting and training tailored to the conditions of each facility. Joint drills for evacuating exhibited items in preparation for disasters including fires, as well as emergency evacuation education and training for visitors in response to gas-based fire extinguishing system activation, will be conducted concurrently.
Lee Young-pal, Deputy Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, stated, "We will ensure that there is no negligence in safety management through fire safety inspections and consulting to protect the safety of visitors and patrons of museums and art galleries, as well as to safeguard cultural properties."
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