Lotte Department Store Centum City in Busan, which had closed for three days after part of the ceiling in its food hall collapsed, will resume business on the 3rd.
Lotte Department Store Centum City said on the 2nd, "During the closure, we completed facility safety inspections and restoration work with an outside expert agency," adding, "After concluding consultations on store operations with relevant authorities including the Haeundae District Office, we plan to resume business on the 3rd."
Earlier, at about 3:03 p.m. on the 31st of last month, an accident believed to have been caused by a chilled-water pipe leak occurred in the basement level 1 food hall of Lotte Department Store Centum City in Haeundae District, Busan, causing part of the ceiling finish and equipment to collapse.
There were no casualties from the accident, but more than 150 people, including customers and employees, were evacuated.
The department store said the collapsed section of the basement level 1 ceiling and the basement level 2 staff cafeteria, where water flowed, will be closed until construction is completed, and that all other areas will operate as normal.
Lotte Department Store will also conduct additional facility safety inspections at stores nationwide in the wake of the accident.
A Lotte Department Store official said, "We apologize for causing concern with this incident," adding, "We will conduct additional facility safety inspections at stores nationwide and do our best to provide a safer shopping environment."
An official at the Haeundae District Office said, "After reviewing the repair and reinforcement plan submitted by the facility manager, the safety management plan during construction, and safety measures for users, we determined them to be appropriate," adding, "We lifted the suspension of use for sections other than those under repair and reinforcement."