Following a hotel fire, Seoul conducts urgent fire safety checks on 7,338 accommodations to ensure safety for upcoming BTS concert visitors.
March/16/2026 14:34Related Groups & Members
The South Korean government, triggered by a fire at a capsule hotel in central Seoul, will launch an emergency fire safety inspection of all accommodations in the city. With the BTS comeback performance scheduled at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st, an increase in foreign tourists and visitors is anticipated, prompting measures to strengthen safety management of accommodations. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 16th, the Fire Agency will conduct emergency safety inspections over four days from today until the 19th, targeting 7,338 accommodations located in Seoul. The inspection will cover 4,904 tourist accommodations for foreigners, 381 hanok experience facilities, and 2,053 accommodations in Jongno and Jung districts. Among these, it has been identified that there are 45 accommodations equipped with capsule-type facilities similar to the recent fire incident. For urban-type accommodations and hanok experience facilities aimed at foreign tourists, inspections will confirm the proper functioning of fire safety equipment such as smoke detectors, and fire safety education and fire prevention guidance will be provided to relevant personnel. Special fire inspections will be conducted particularly in accommodations in Jongno and Jung districts, where a high concentration of visitors is expected, as well as in capsule hotels in Seoul. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to conduct surprise inspections on capsule hotels and other structures with densely packed layouts that pose a high risk of fire spread, in collaboration with the Fire Agency, local governments, the Electrical Safety Corporation, and the Gas Safety Corporation. Once the results of the special fire inspections are available, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will analyze the management systems of accommodations and identify issues in fire safety management and operations, considering proposals for system improvements. Minister Yoon Ho-jun received a report on the response to the fire incident at the accommodation facility in Sogong-dong, Seoul, which occurred on the 14th of this month, from Acting Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong of the Fire Agency, and instructed to strengthen fire safety management in accommodations. In this fire, among three seriously injured foreigners, a woman in her 50s with Japanese nationality remains unconscious, while two others, a man and a woman in their 50s, who were also unconscious, have regained consciousness and are receiving treatment. Additionally, seven foreigners with minor injuries have been moved to temporary accommodations. Minister Yoon stated, "With a large-scale K-POP performance approaching, we expect a significant increase in visitors from both Korea and abroad to Seoul, so we will promptly and thoroughly carry out emergency safety inspections to create an environment where everyone can stay safely." The South Korean government plans to strengthen safety management measures on the day of BTS's comeback performance, including fire response and crowd control.
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