Director Nam Heung-woo of the Fire Safety Planning Division for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games vows to take care of safety for the international visitors at the Olympics and Paralympics, at his office in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province.
By Kim Eun-young and Kim Young Shin
Photos = Gangwon Fire Headquarter
“We will establish air-tight fire safety measures to make sure the upcoming Winter Games are the safest in Olympic history.”
Director Nam Heung-woo, the head of the Fire Safety Planning Division for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, emphasized safety and security during his recent interview with Korea.net.
The Fire Safety Planning Division, established in March 2016, is in charge of fire safety measures during the Olympics and Paralympics and serves as a control tower among all fire departments and fire fighters. Its major role is to keep the fire fighters safe and to rescue and help people during any disaster.
Nam is quite busy preparing all the required safety measures. The division has even remodeled its ambulances to fit the tallest athletes.
Korea.net sat down with Director Nam to hear about this division’s preparations for the upcoming Winter Games.
– What do members of the Fire Safety Planning Division for PyeongChang 2018 do, exactly?
Under the principle that “the key to the success of the Winter Games is to secure their safety,” we are planning, adjusting and preparing to face any fire or other accident or emergency that might occur during the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics. We have on our team at least 10 experts from across many fields, including security planning and IT, all with experience and knowledge about international events, including myself.
– What are the key issues for the Fire Safety Planning Division in terms of safety?
We worked out our fire fighting and emergency response system across three levels: prevention, preparation and counteraction. We are especially focused on preparation.
– How does the Fire Safety Planning Division prepare?
In cooperation with the Incheon Fire Department, we monitor transportation from the airport to the Games venues, real-time, to prepare for any emergency that might occur, especially concerning the visiting athletes. Also, we work together fire departments across Gangwon-do Province to reinforce our 24-hour emergency monitoring system and response teams.
We have also equipped ourselves with seven large ambulances for athletes and visitors taller than 190 cm/ 6 ft. 3 in.
During the Winter Games, there will be some 100 vehicles, including fire engines and ambulances, operated by 500 first responders deployed near the Games venues to handle any emergency.
– What should people do in case of emergency during the Winter Games?
In the case of an emergency, you can use the “Gangwon 119 Report” (강원119신고) app, which comes in English, simplified Chinese and Japanese. If you tap on the “Send to 119” button in this app, your current location is directly sent to the central situation room for all Gangwon-do Province fire departments. If you’re using roaming, you can talk to an officer with the help of an interpreter for 19 languages, including English, French, German and Russian. This system has been launched for the first time this year for the Winter Games. The app also shows the nearest hospital and pharmacy.
– Do you have any message for those who plan to visit the Winter Games?
Since 2016, we’ve been practicing emergency response procedures over and over again at the Olympic venues, to prepare for any kind of accident. We have also purchased special equipment to ensure the safety of all. We will do our best to let the international athletes and visitors enjoy this global sporting event in safety and security.
First responders practice rescuing people during an anti-terrorism drill at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza, in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on Dec. 12.
eykim86@korea.kr
