The government will initiate inspections of national sports facilities in light of the structural collapse incident that occurred at NC Park in Changwon's Masan district. The management entities of 13 baseball stadiums must submit the results of their own safety inspections to the government.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 29th that they will hold a meeting to strengthen baseball stadium safety on the afternoon of the 30th, with the attendance of facility management entities from 13 baseball stadiums used by 10 domestic baseball teams.
Relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the facility management entities from 13 baseball stadiums, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the Korea Safety Management Agency, and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), are expected to attend the meeting.
This meeting was arranged to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents following the structural collapse that occurred on March 29 at NC Park in Changwon's Masan district.
At this event, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will share the results of an emergency safety inspection of NC Park in Changwon's Masan district and plans for follow-up measures.
The meeting will particularly introduce the 'self-safety inspection manual for attachments in baseball stadiums', developed through consultations with relevant institutions and expert advice. This manual includes detailed inspection contents such as safety inspection plan establishment for attachments like ceilings, plumbing, and railings, pre-investigation, inspection standards and procedures by type of attachment, and repair and reinforcement measures.
It will focus on guidance regarding key inspection items and detailed inspection criteria by inspection area, including the connection points, connections between components, and finishing materials of walls and ceilings according to the types of main inspection targets such as electronic displays, advertising boards, lighting equipment, and safety railings.
If the results of the self-safety inspections suggest concerns for the safety of baseball stadium users, it is recommended to consult with experts in related fields for inspections using specialized equipment. Additionally, if repairs or reinforcements are necessary, the facility management entities are encouraged to establish short-term and medium- to long-term maintenance plans.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to explain comprehensive safety assurance measures for sports facilities based on the key contents of the 'sports facility safety inspection grade determination manual' and the 'integrated safety management guide for sports facilities (baseball stadiums)'.
It will outline the standards and procedures for determining safety grades according to detailed items by inspection target (structures, electrical systems, fire safety, spectator seats, grounds, etc.), and explain how to systematically manage follow-up measures (repairs and reinforcements) based on inspection results.
Specialized safety management items for baseball stadiums will also be announced. Key items include checks on the fixation status of spectator seats, the installation of safety devices (fences, nets, etc.) within the grounds, and inspections of risk factors along the movement paths of spectators, such as railings and entrances. The legal inspection obligations that must be strictly followed by facility management entities will be outlined, and safety inspection checklists will be disseminated to enhance their self-inspection capabilities.
The government plans to request the facility management entities of the 13 baseball stadiums that attended the meeting to conduct their own safety inspections promptly and submit the results.
For other sports facilities, such as soccer fields, the government will also recommend conducting self-safety inspections in accordance with related laws and ensure that the manual is actively utilized during safety inspections to strengthen comprehensive safety management focusing on preventive measures.
Kim Tae-byeong, Director of Technical Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, 'The NC Park accident is a serious issue directly related to the safety of spectators, and it is recognized very seriously.' He noted, 'Through this meeting, we will quickly carry out a thorough inspection of baseball stadiums across the nation to eliminate risk factors in advance.'