SH Corporation and Seoul Fire Department Sign MOU to Strengthen Apartment Complex Fire Safety

Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) and Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 27, 2025, to strengthen fire safety in apartment complexes. This agreement was established to enhance fire prevention and response systems for rental and public sale apartments managed by SH Corporation, in response to recent frequent apartment fire accidents. SH Corporation manages approximately 1,200 complexes totaling 250,000 households across Seoul.

Five Core Cooperative Projects

The agreement's core content includes five cooperative projects. First, joint implementation of apartment fire safety surveys. SH Corporation and fire authorities will jointly conduct fire equipment inspections and fire hazard surveys targeting rental apartments. Aging rental apartments and high-rise apartments have been prioritized for inspection. Second, operation of fire prevention education and training programs. Residents will be educated on fire extinguisher usage, evacuation route confirmation, and emergency response procedures. Regular education will be conducted at least four times annually, with customized programs developed for children and elderly residents. Third, fire equipment improvement and new technology introduction. Aging sprinklers and alarm systems will be replaced, with AI-based fire detection system installation being promoted. AI systems can detect smoke and heat in real-time enabling initial response. Fourth, customized fire safety support for vulnerable groups. Wireless fire alarms will be installed free of charge for solitary elderly and disabled households, with emergency communication devices directly connected to fire authorities provided. Fifth, establishment of rapid response systems during fires. SH Corporation will provide fire authorities with real-time complex blueprints and resident information, while fire authorities aim to arrive on scene within 5 minutes of fire occurrence.

Recent Increase in Apartment Fire Accidents

This agreement was promoted against the background of increasing apartment fire accidents. According to National Fire Agency statistics, nationwide apartment fire incidents in 2024 numbered 5,872—an 8.2% increase year-over-year. Particularly, electrical fires and negligence-caused fires accounted for over 70% of total incidents. In August this year, a Daegu apartment fire claiming the lives of teenage siblings shocked society. SH Corporation's president stated, "Apartment fire safety is directly connected to residents' lives," promising to "create zero-fire complexes through close cooperation with fire authorities." Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters director said, "Cooperation with SH Corporation will elevate public rental housing fire safety levels to the next stage," adding plans to "expand the cooperation model to private apartments in the future."

Experts expect this agreement to become a new model for apartment fire safety. A Seoul National University of Science and Technology fire and disaster prevention professor emphasized, "Cooperation between public housing management organizations and fire authorities is key to proactive fire prevention," noting that "private apartment complexes should also actively adopt such models." Meanwhile, SH Corporation plans to invest a total of 50 billion won ($37.5 million) over the next three years for comprehensive fire equipment improvements in aging rental apartments. Particularly, 150 complexes over 30 years old have been prioritized, with complete sprinkler replacement and evacuation facility reinforcement construction proceeding. Fire authorities also plan to designate SH Corporation-managed complexes as fire safety special management zones, strengthening regular inspections and education.

Original article: TrendyNews Korea