Flaws in Stadium Infrastructure Spark Safety Worries

{ "articleTitle": "Audit Board Warns of Collapse Risks at Korean Baseball Stadiums", "articleDescription": "The Board of Audit and Inspection has identified inadequate safety management at sports facilities hosting professional baseball games, citing specific structural defects at Gocheok Sky Dome and Munhak Stadium that pose potential collapse risks.", "articleBody": "

Structural Defects Identified at Key Venues

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The Board of Audit and Inspection has found inadequate safety management at sports facilities hosting professional baseball games and other performances, according to a report by KBS. The audit body warned specifically of possible collapse risks at Gocheok Sky Dome and Munhak Stadium due to defects in their roof structures.

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At Gocheok Sky Dome, an inspection revealed that 23 of the 466 joints connecting the steel structures that make up the roof were bent beyond construction tolerances. Despite recommendations to reinforce structures on both sides, the Seoul Facilities Corporation consulted only the contractor and reinforced just one side.

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A subsequent safety assessment found that the Gocheok Sky Dome structure lacked sufficient load-bearing capacity. The Board of Audit and Inspection concluded that the risk of collapse during heavy snowfall or strong winds could not be ruled out at the venue.

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At Incheon's Munhak Stadium, damage to the steel structures supporting the roof was identified in 2024, but no action was taken. The only measure for Munhak Stadium was a plan to carry out reinforcement work in 2028, when the home team is scheduled to relocate.

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Previous Incidents and Additional Safety Concerns

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The audit comes amid concerns over safety at sports venues following past incidents. Last year, an exterior structure fell at Changwon NC Park, injuring two people and killing one person. Stone panels also fell from the ceiling at a football stadium in Pohang.

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Other stadiums were found to have left construction defects unaddressed. Jeonju World Cup Stadium was found to have left construction defects unaddressed despite discovering insufficient reinforcing steel. Seoul World Cup Stadium conducted a structural safety assessment without accounting for the weight of a 120-ton sauna facility.

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Official Responses and Public Reaction

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Lee Won-jun, speaking from Paju, Gyeonggi Province, expressed concern over the findings. \"When people attend sporting events or concerts, they jump around and have fun. Thinking about a possible collapse is really frightening,\" Lee said.

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President Lee Jae Myung stated that extensive safety inspections are needed for facilities where large crowds gather, as well as structures such as bridges.

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The Board of Audit and Inspection said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and