‘3명 사상’ 거제 아파트 인공 경사면, 정부 안전관리 밖에 방치돼 있었다

An incident where a resident of a Dongjae apartment complex in Gyeongju, Korea, lost their life due to an artificial slope (inland slope) was revealed to have been neglected by three government agencies responsible for safety management. The Korean legal framework divides slope management into two categories: the Ministry of the Interior and Safety handles landslide prevention with the 'Landslide Prevention Act', while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport oversees facility safety and maintenance with the 'Facility Management and Maintenance Act'.

The Ministry of Environment, however, stated that artificial slopes are not subject to management under the Forest Act. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety admitted that they failed to assess whether the artificial slope in the Dongjae apartment complex is classified as a landslide or a facility, and that it should have undergone regular safety inspections and reported the results to the local government.

The reason for the lack of investigation is attributed to the fact that the apartment was built long before the related legislation (1994) was enacted. The apartment's builder constructed the slope by removing land and installing retaining walls. In cases where retaining walls are present, the slope is considered a dangerous inland slope, classified as 'inland slope' if its height is 3 meters, length is 20 meters, and gradient is 34 degrees or more.

The Ministry of Environment classifies retaining walls as 'Category 2 facilities' and the last safety inspection, carried out a year ago by a private owner, resulted in a B grade. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, on the other hand, revealed that the artificial slope is not registered as a facility. The Ministry of Environment explained that while the artificial slope and adjacent forested areas in the Dongjae apartment complex are classified as landslide risk levels 1 and 2, the artificial slope is managed under different laws, preventing it from being designated as a landslide-prone area.

Consequently, there has been no inspection or evaluation of the artificial slope's safety by the national or local government. Professor Eosu from Seoul University's Department of Civil Engineering stated that with such a fragmented system, it is difficult to prevent disasters. President Park's Office of the President has ordered the relevant government agencies to promptly register the information about the artificial slope's status to prevent any potential natural disasters that could result in human casualties.