The number of fires reported at accommodations across the country reached 1,843 in the 2018-2023 period, data showed Sunday, raising concerns over a lack of fire safety facilities in buildings that were built before relevant equipment was mandated by law.

By accommodation type, those that broke out in motels came in at 645 cases, followed by those at pensions with 328 cases and hotels with 273 cases, according to the five-year data from the National Fire Data System compiled by the National Fire Agency.

This illustration shows a sprinkler system in operation. (Yonhap)

The data comes amid growing safety concerns at accommodations following a deadly fire at a nine-story hotel in Bucheon, west of Seoul, on Thursday that left seven dead and a dozen others injured.

Officials said the fire led to a large number of casualties as the building, built in 2003, was not equipped with a sprinkler system and smoke spread quickly through narrow corridors.

South Korea mandated sprinkler systems in all accommodations th
at are 11 stories or higher in 2005 and expanded the measure to all accommodations that are six stories or higher in 2018.

In 2022, the law was revised to mandate sprinkler systems in all accommodations, regardless of the number of floors, but was not applied retroactively.

Civic groups and lawmakers, such as Rep. Koh Dong-jin of the ruling People Power Party, have called for the mandatory installation of sprinkler systems. Koh recently submitted legislation mandating sprinkler systems at accommodations and other facilities by 2027 through partial or full state support.

But some have cited cost issues, saying it is not easy for small business owners to install such systems.

More than 90 percent of some 30,000 accommodations across the country are estimated to be located in buildings that are 10 stories or lower. Around 23,000 of them are in buildings that are five stories or lower.

Source: Yonhap News Agency