Daejeon O-World, which suspended operations following the escape of a wolf named "Neukgu," has entered the final stages of preparation for reopening.
According to Daejeon Urban Corporation, which operates O-World, the Geum River Basin Environmental Office will conduct an on-site inspection on Saturday to verify whether facility improvement measures imposed on O-World have been implemented.
The corporation received an order from the Geum River Basin Environmental Office on the 20th of last month to suspend use of the zoo's facilities, and has since carried out comprehensive safety inspections and recurrence prevention measures. Ordered to submit an action plan and completion report containing recurrence prevention measures within one month, the corporation submitted the action plan to the Geum River Basin Environmental Office on the 18th.
The corporation said it has completed work to reinforce the wolf enclosure's iron fence and electric wires with double layers, and to add concrete reinforcement under the soil in consideration of wolves' burrowing habits.
The Geum River Basin Environmental Office plans to decide on reopening after the inspection on Saturday. "Once we receive the official reopening approval after the inspection, we will be able to open," a Daejeon Urban Corporation official said. "We expect the reopening date to be decided as early as next week."
O-World hosts 11 tenant businesses, including cafes, restaurants, character shops, and convenience stores, all of which have remained closed and on standby since the Neukgu escape incident on the 8th of last month. If reopening is confirmed soon, the tenant businesses are expected to find some relief.
"Regarding damages to tenant businesses, we are conducting an investigation to calculate objective damage figures that satisfy both O-World and the businesses," the corporation official said.
Neukgu escaped from O-World on the 8th of last month and was captured at around 12:44 a.m. on the 17th of the same month near the Anyeong Interchange in Jung-gu, Daejeon. At the time of discovery, the wolf had lost approximately 3 kilograms in weight, and a 2.6-centimeter fishing hook was found in its stomach, which was removed through an endoscopic procedure.
Neukgu, which has since been recovering at the zoo, is reported to be in very good health. "Neukgu shows no signs of fear or anxiety, and is actually more active than before," a corporation official told Yonhap News. "He is also getting along well with his family."
