Gov`t to tighten safety precautions ahead of G-20 summit

Korea will impose stiff safety regulations on indoor shooting ranges and "screen golf" centers, both of which have gained in popularity recently but are considered vulnerable to fire, the prime minister`s office said Tuesday and Yonhap News reported.

The government will also carry out regular safety checks on the country`s major attractions to ensure "danger-free" tourist zones.

The measures come after a tragic blaze that killed 15 at an indoor shooting range in the southern port city of Busan last month. Ten of the victims were Japanese tourists who visited the shooting range as part of a sightseeing program.

The move is part of a comprehensive government plan reported to President Lee Myung-bak during a weekly Cabinet meeting to enhance the country`s safety regulations.

"The plan aims to root out three big disasters frequently seen in less advanced countries -- massive fires, explosions and collapsed buildings -- on the occasion of next year`s G-20 summit (to be held in Seoul)," the prime minister`s office said in a statement. It added the long-term objective is to help South Korea advance to the top 15 safest countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).