In the latter half of 2023, MOIS, together with key central ministries, local governments, and public institutions, pinpointed and ratified 23 tasks aimed at enhancement across seven areas such as facility safety, industrial sectors, and lifestyle and leisure activities. These tasks are set for earnest implementation starting in 2024.

These initiatives were finalized after a collaborative review by ten ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the National Fire Agency, among others, which independently identified areas needing systemic enhancements or incorporated suggestions from local governments and public agencies.

The key improvement initiatives identified in collaboration with affiliated organizations during the latter half of the previous year are as follows.

1) To enhance the safety management system by setting precise safety criteria for luge experience centers. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

- (As-is) Despite safety incidents at luge centers, a gap in safety management persisted due to unclear facility standards and varying criteria across locations.

- (To-be) Amendments to the “Standards and procedures for safety inspection of recreational facilities or equipment” will introduce specific safety guidelines tailored to the unique features of luge centers, thereby bolstering the safety framework for both visitors and operators.
* There have been 15 reported incidents at luge centers from 2017 to 2020, according to the Korea Consumer Agency data.

2) To mandate the installation of barrier systems in underpasses located in flood-prone and low-lying areas, aiming to reduce flooding incidents and prevent casualties. (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)"

- (As-is) With the increasing frequency and severity of summer downpours, underpass flooding has become a common issue. Yet, current road tunnel management standards require barrier installations solely in tunnels classified as grade 2 or above.

With the upcoming amendments to the “Road Tunnel Disaster Prevention and Ventilation Equipment Installation and Management Guidelines,” the installation of barrier systems will be obligatory for all underpasses in flood-prone and low-lying areas. This change ensures rapid vehicle access control to subterranean roads during heavy rainfall, enhancing the prevention of vehicle flooding and human casualties.
* (Current Status) Disaster prevention installation is required for facilities with disaster prevention level 2 only (tunnels over 1 km in length). → (Improvement) Underpasses susceptible to flooding and not classified by grade will require such installations.

3) Implementation of safety standards for ethanol furnaces to mitigate fire risks. (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)

- (As-is) Ethanol furnaces currently lack KC safety certifications, leading to instances where products of questionable safety are sold, heightening the risk of injuries or *fatalities from fires that can arise if the furnace tips over or during fuel refilling.

- (To-be) By updating the Electrical Appliances and Household Products Safety Management Act enforcement rules to include specific safety standards for ethanol furnaces, safety accident prevention will be bolstered.
* From January 2020 to March 2022, there were 13 incidents of ethanol furnace-related fires, resulting in 15 injuries, according to the National Fire Agency.

4) Establishing safety protocols for concrete thermal curing* to prevent poisoning and suffocation. (Ministry of Employment and Labor)

* In winter, after concrete is poured, the construction structure is warmed up by burning lignite (As-is) The use of lignite stoves in concrete thermal curing has led to carbon monoxide poisoning and suffocation incidents, with a lack of established safety standards for such construction processes.

* There have been 12 recorded incidents over the past four years (2019-2022), including 4 fatalities and 25 serious injuries, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

(To be) To reduce these risks, the "Concrete Construction Standard Safety Work Guidelines" will be updated to include specific health and safety standards for thermal curing, enhancing protection against potential poisoning and suffocation hazards.

5) Upgrading data centers to Grade A major communication facilities for improved management. (Ministry of Science and Technology)

- (As is) While data center operators have been recognized for their disaster management roles, a lack of clear classification standards has led to data centers being overlooked, highlighting a discrepancy in safety management.
- (To be) By amending the "Standards for Designation and Management of Telecommunications Facility Grades for Major Telecommunications Business Operators (Notice)” data centers meeting specific criteria (e.g., a computer room with a floor area exceeding 22,500 m² and a power capacity of 40 MW or more) will be classified as Grade A major communication facilities, ensuring stricter measures for power stability, access control, security, disaster preparedness, and staff training.

[Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety]