In response to the recent explosion at an LPG charging station in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, the South Korean government has declared its intent to conduct special inspections on all LPG charging stations nationwide by next month. If any regulatory violations are discovered during the inspections, the government has pledged to take administrative actions.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy convened a meeting today (January 4) led by Park Chan-gi, the Policy Director for Hydrogen Economy, with representatives from the energy industry, the Korea LPG Industry Association, and the Gas Safety Corporation in attendance. During the meeting, the government shared its commitment to conducting thorough safety checks and urged industry stakeholders to enhance safety management measures.
The Ministry stated, "Based on the on-site inspection results by Deputy Minister Kang Kyung-sung of the Ministry of Industry on January 2, non-compliance with safety regulations was identified within the charging station." In response, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Gas Safety Corporation, will conduct special inspections on all LPG charging stations nationwide from yesterday (January 3) until next month.
The inspections will also include a comprehensive examination of LPG charging vehicles throughout this month.
The Ministry emphasized that if any violations of safety regulations are found during the inspections, strict administrative measures will be enforced.
Additionally, as part of post-inspection measures, surprise inspections will be carried out on bulk LPG charging stations starting from next month.
On the evening of January 1, an explosion occurred at an LPG charging station in Yongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, resulting in injuries to five individuals. The incident has prompted urgent government action to ensure the safety of LPG charging stations across the country.