A safety incident at a baseball stadium has resulted in injuries during the era of 10 million spectators. NC Dinos CEO Lee Jin-man apologized for the injuries sustained by fans due to a structure falling at Changwon NC Park and noted that efforts will be made to prevent a recurrence.

On the 29th, at Changwon NC Park, where the LG-NC game was held, three spectators were transported to the hospital due to the structure collapse. An external structure on the third floor of the stadium fell onto the concession stand on the first floor, injuring three spectators who were near the stand.

CEO Lee Jin-man met with reporters at Changwon NC Park’s press room on the 30th to explain the incident, stating, "We will do everything we can to support the treatment of the injured and hope for their speedy recovery."

In an official statement from the club, CEO Lee noted, "At approximately 5:20 p.m. on March 29, an incident occurred when a structure fixed to the wall near the concession stand at Changwon NC Park fell, resulting in three injuries. We wish a swift recovery to those who have suffered unfortunate injuries. We are doing our best to take necessary measures, and we will thoroughly conduct investigations to identify the exact cause of the incident and establish measures to ensure such accidents do not occur again, in cooperation with the relevant authorities."

Afterward, while responding to questions from reporters, Lee addressed the club's response after the incident, the cancellation of the LG-NC game, future safety inspections, and hosting home games. The following is a Q&A.

- How did the club respond after the incident?
Immediately after the incident, the club quickly called an ambulance for the injured and restricted access to the area and pathways to prevent further injuries. At the same time, they promptly contacted the police for cooperation in the investigation. Staff members are currently waiting at the hospital to prioritize the needs of the injured. A club executive is accompanying them in the hospital to check on their conditions and confirm if any support is needed. The club has been in contact with the families of the victims since the incident, striving to prevent the spread of unverified false information.
Additionally, communication with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) began right after the incident to discuss immediate safety measures and decide on the cancellation of the game on the 30th. Future games will be discussed as safety assessments are conducted. We will work to analyze the cause of the accident in cooperation with relevant authorities, prioritizing the safety of our fans. The club will do its utmost for post-incident measures and for the victims.

- What kind of surgery did the injured spectator undergo, and what is their condition?
Staff members are continually checking the situation, but close access is being restricted. While family members are receiving information, there is a slight delay in confirming the exact details as it is being relayed through another party. We are continually communicating, but this is all the confirmed information as of now.

- Does being in the intensive care unit mean the condition is serious?
We haven’t received news of recovery yet. I understand the injuries are considerable since they were transported by ambulance yesterday. We have been informed they are currently in the ICU after surgery. We are keeping them in our thoughts.

- What material was the fallen structure made of?
It is an aluminum "louver." The length is 2.6 m, the width is 40 cm, and we cannot determine the weight at this time as it is under investigation.

- How is the safety inspection of the facility being conducted?

Right after the incident, we contacted companies for safety inspections, but the weekend evening made it challenging. We hoped to conduct a safety inspection today if possible, and we are in continuous discussions with various companies. Some of these companies have yet to provide us with a date, so we are doing our best to coordinate with them to ensure it is conducted as soon as possible. (After the interview, a company for the safety inspection was selected to conduct it on the 31st.)

- Who is responsible for facility management? Are the club and Changwon City not connected?

While it is cautious to make statements about responsibility as the police and relevant agencies are investigating, what we know is that safety inspections at the baseball stadium are carried out by Changwon City. We have confirmed that the most recent inspection was conducted by the Changwon City Facilities Corporation around January-February 2023.

(According to the Safety Management Act for Facilities, a detailed safety inspection must be conducted five years after construction, and then every three years thereafter. Changwon NC Park opened in 2019, and the detailed safety inspection was conducted in 2023, five years later. The next inspection is scheduled for 2026.)

- There is a home game against the SSG Landers next week; have discussions with the KBO about hosting the game without spectators been held?
We decided to cancel yesterday's and today's games and, not knowing how long the safety inspection period will take, we will continue discussions regarding future games. We have suggested several options to the KBO. It should not take long, and I believe a decision will be reached swiftly. The most important thing is the safety of our fans.

- The SSG team has to move to Changwon tomorrow.
The club has communicated its opinions, and I understand discussions are ongoing with the KBO. It is undoubtedly a very serious situation, but we believe it is undesirable to negatively impact the overall operation of the KBO league. We are aiming to cooperate as much as possible within the scope of normal operations. We proposed ways to ensure the league operates while securing fan safety.

An NC club official reported during the LG-NC game on the 29th, "Around 5:20 p.m., a structure installed on the wall near the third base side of Changwon NC Park fell, resulting in three spectators being transported to the hospital. Two were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals for examination and treatment, while one needed to be transported separately for care after being significantly startled."

An NC official said afterward, "The spectator who suffered a head injury is undergoing surgery at a local hospital. One person is being treated for a collarbone injury. Club staff are at the hospital," and noted, "The club will spare no effort in supporting treatment. We will communicate as soon as the surgical outcomes are available."

The NC club announced after the LG game on the 29th, "The game scheduled against the LG Twins on March 30th (Sunday) at Changwon NC Park has been canceled for a facility inspection. The decision on whether to proceed with home games will be announced later depending on the duration of the facility safety inspection."

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