The National Fire Agency said on the 11th that, together with KG Group, it visited the Seoul Station jjokbang village and carried out a "safety companion" volunteer activity.
The Seoul Station jjokbang village is the last haven for people who have not found a place to settle and is cited as the nation's largest fire-prone area. Old electrical wiring is tangled in cramped spaces, and in winter, when the use of heating appliances surges to escape the cold, the risk of fire is higher there than anywhere else.
The volunteer group worked that day to improve infrastructure to prevent fires. To stop the use of octopus-style power strips, a main cause of fires, they collected old multi-taps and replaced them entirely with high-capacity safety multi-taps.
They also installed household mini fire extinguishers, which are effective for initial suppression. They checked whether fire safety systems—fire alarm equipment (manual call points and control panels) installed in hallways and stairwells, evacuation guidance lights, and standalone alarm-type detectors—were operating properly.
Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, the National Fire Agency and KG Group donated daily necessities such as meal kits, rice and coffee to "Warmth Storage," a community store for residents.
Kim Seung-ryong, acting commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, "As this is a time when the use of electrical and heating appliances increases, we ask for special caution," and added, "We will address shortcomings identified on site and push forward with dense, prevention-centered safety policies."