While safety regulations are being tightened through measures such as expanding the scope of mandatory fire curtain installations at performance venues, critics say small theaters in Daehangno remain in a regulatory blind spot. Calls are growing to strengthen on-site response systems, given that equipment-based regulations cannot be uniformly applied to small theaters with fewer than 300 seats due to cost and space constraints.
According to the performing arts industry on Tuesday, a partial amendment to the Performance Act expanding the scope of mandatory fire curtain installations to venues with 300 or more seats was promulgated on Nov. 28. Under current law, the mandate is limited to national and public performance venues with 1,000 or more seats. The scope was broadened to address fire risks at mid-sized venues with limited evacuation exits. However, many Daehangno venues have 200 seats or fewer, placing them outside the amendment's reach.
A series of recent fire alarm malfunctions at a theater in Dongsung-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is cited as an example highlighting this blind spot. At the theater, fire alarms went off during performances on Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, forcing shows to be suspended. Although there was no actual fire, the absence of immediate evacuation guidance caused widespread confusion among the audience. Images of fire trucks and ambulances arriving at the scene were shared on X, formerly Twitter. The production company said, "While the fire safety inspection found no abnormalities, we apologize for the recurrence of the same situation," and issued refunds to all ticket holders.
A theater official told Seoul Economic Daily in a phone interview, "The detector picked up smoke from a smoke effect device, triggering the alarm." The official added, "It was the result of the system reacting sensitively during normal operation." The official also said, "There was a lack of shared protocols for handling malfunction situations," and pledged to "strengthen training for on-site staff."
Administrative authorities said they plan to review response systems through regular inspections. A Jongno-gu Office official said, "We inspected the site after the malfunction and conduct fire safety inspections in the first and second half of every year." The official added, "We are checking fire safety facilities overall, including whether fire extinguishers work properly and whether alarms may malfunction."
Experts warn that even non-fire incidents can lead to major accidents at crowded performance venues. Chae Jin, a professor at the Department of Fire Safety at Mokwon University, said, "Even in cases of false alarms, when audiences are packed into narrow spaces, people can fall or be crushed during evacuation." He added, "Mid- and large-sized venues can expand equipment such as fire curtains, but small theaters with fewer than 300 seats face heavy cost burdens, which limits the effectiveness of blanket regulations." He stressed, "What matters is repeated on-site response drills, including guiding people to exits, making announcements, and assigning roles to staff."
