[EDITORIAL] Backward safety

Korea has not been particularly successful in its national endeavors to promote international tourism all these years. A number of negative factors have been cited, including the high cost of food and lodging, no abundance of awesome historical sites, polluted cities, language inconvenience, and so on. After the tragic fire at an indoor shooting range in Busan, which killed 10 people, including eight Japanese tourists, and injured six, backwardness in safety precautions should now be added to the list.

No words of condolence or apology from President Lee Myung-bak, Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and other ministers concerned can relieve the grief of the families of the victims. Thorough investigation of the cause of the disaster and sincere help in funeral arrangements and treatment of the injured are all the authorities can do about the unprecedented incident involving foreign tourists.



Each time a big fire broke out at a warehouse, kindergarten, dormitory or a night club, taking many lives, the authorities belatedly discover violations of safety rules by their owners and operators. A little more careful checkup of fire prevention equipment and a closer look into the use of building materials could have avoided big tragedies. Proprietors of business establishments forget that strict rules are to protect themselves.

It is reported that 13 pistol firing ranges are in business across the country, four in Busan. Those places are popular among Japanese male tourists who rarely have the chance to touch a real gun and are willing to pay 3,000 yen to fire 10 rounds at one of those firing ranges during group tours. Unfortunately, they did not know that Korean laws require only soundproof and shockproof facilities for such places but no special fire prevention measures, despite the fact that shooting causes sparks.

The approaching cold season is prone to fire hazards. It is appalling just to imagine what a little short circuit could cause to the myriad of narrow corridors of traditional markets where electric wires are strewn overhead like cobwebs and shopping crowds move about unaware of the dangers lurking so close to them.