Incheon Coupang Center's Fire Safety Inspection Found 25 Issues This Year

An inspection conducted earlier this year at an Incheon Coupang logistics center, the same facility where a previous fire took 61 hours to extinguish, uncovered 25 safety issues. The comprehensive check, carried out by Coupang using an external firm from late February to late March, identified problems across six categories, including fire extinguishing systems, alarm systems, and evacuation facilities.

The alarm system category alone accounted for 13 of the 25 reported issues. Three problems were noted in evacuation and rescue facilities, three in fire extinguishing equipment, and six in other areas like fire doors. Specifically on the sixth floor, where the recent fire originated, three issues were found, including detached detectors and pipe connections.

Coupang submitted a report confirming the completion of corrective measures by early May, which fire authorities initially accepted. However, the fire department now states that further investigation is needed to determine if the issues identified during the self-inspection played a role in the recent fire's escalation. The extent to which these prior findings influenced the recent incident remains under scrutiny.