BUSAN — The Busan Metropolitan Government has launched comprehensive safety inspections of vulnerable facilities amid growing concerns over collapse and rockfall accidents caused by weakened ground during the thaw season.
The city designated February through April as an "intensive management period" when safety risks increase as frozen ground thaws, and activated a joint public-private inspection system.
Busan announced Thursday that it is conducting thaw-season safety inspections at 1,803 locations including steep slopes, landslide-prone areas, and construction sites. The city-wide response system involves the Citizen Safety Office, relevant city departments, affiliated public institutions, and district offices. Inspections will continue through April 10.
The inspection targets include 1,272 steep slopes, 356 landslide-prone areas, 64 construction sites, 57 retaining wall structures, 35 roads, and 12 embankments. Inspectors are focusing on signs of subsidence, cracks, and soil erosion, as well as the maintenance status of key structures such as retaining walls and stone embankments. Facilities rated D or E in safety grades are also included to minimize blind spots in safety management.
To enhance effectiveness, the city is operating joint public-private inspection teams comprising civil engineering and architecture experts. These teams are prioritizing 175 locations classified as thaw-season vulnerable facilities, including construction sites and retaining walls. Steep slopes and landslide-prone areas are also being inspected in accordance with relevant regulations. The city also selected eight major project sites, including the "Busan South Port West Breakwater Disaster-Vulnerable Area Improvement Project," for preemptive sample inspections late last month.
Coordination with related agencies has been strengthened. The city held preliminary inspection meetings with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and district offices to share management targets and response systems by agency. Key management items for this year were reorganized based on last year's inspection results. Meetings to identify vulnerable sites for summer disaster preparedness were also held alongside thaw-season inspections, establishing a preemptive response system for seasonal risk factors.
Channels for citizen participation have been expanded. The city plans to actively utilize the "Resident Inspection Request System," through which residents can report abnormal signs at nearby facilities such as retaining walls and slopes via the online Safety Sinmungo portal or administrative welfare centers, to address potential risks in daily life at an early stage.
Mayor Park Hyung-joon said, "Minor issues will be corrected immediately on site, and when repairs, reinforcement, or detailed safety diagnosis is needed, we will first take safety measures and then promptly carry out follow-up procedures in consultation with relevant agencies." He added, "We ask citizens to actively report any hazards they discover at nearby facilities through the Resident Inspection Request System."