Fire Safety Risks in Busan University Districts’ Studio Apartment Villages

In March, a fire accident in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, claimed the life of a family’s breadwinner and left two children in critical condition. Although a fire truck arrived at the scene within ten minutes of the report, illegal parking delayed access to the building by more than seven minutes, causing the crucial “golden time” for fire suppression to pass.

On November 21st, a comprehensive report by “Channel PNU” revealed that densely packed “studio apartment villages” in the university areas of Busan, comprising studio apartments and houses, are in a fire safety blind spot. In particular, areas near universities in Busan are often characterized by narrow roads, steep slopes, and closely packed buildings, with illegally parked or stopped vehicles further obstructing the roads.

From September 27th to October 1st, “Channel PNU” examined three areas with high concentrations of studio apartments near universities in Busan—Pusan National University (PNU) in Geumjeong-gu, Dong-Eui University and Dongseo University in Busanjin-gu, and Dong-A University in Seo-gu—based on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s transaction data system. Over five days, it was discovered that many roads in these studio apartment villages lacked proper access routes for fire trucks, which could pose significant issues in the event of a fire.

■Ubiquitous Illegal Parking 

According to current standards set by the National Fire Agency, there are almost no officially designated “fire truck entry difficulty zones” in Busan’s studio apartment villages. These zones are defined as areas with roads wider than 3m that are obstructed by barriers over a stretch of 100m or locations with persistent obstacles that hinder fire truck access and operation. To ensure the effective deployment of medium pump vehicles, which are typically 2.5m wide, such zones should ideally meet these conditions. However, the areas designated by local fire stations as “inaccessible or difficult” for fire trucks were far from studio apartment villages.

Nevertheless, due to the prevalence of illegally parked vehicles near studio apartment villages, these areas have become “practically” inaccessible for fire trucks. During the investigation near the PNU’s studio apartment villages, roads initially around 4m wide had been reduced to less than 3m due to vehicles parked on both sides. Some areas were so narrow that even passenger cars wider than 2m could only pass through cautiously.

Narrow alleyways prevent fire trucks from reaching their target buildings efficiently. An authority from Geumjeong Fire Station stated, “The studio apartment villages near PNU face issues because students and workers park extensively on the streets. If fire trucks could enter the alleys, they could reach their destinations closer and faster, but illegal parking forces us to deploy hoses from the entrance of the alleys instead.”

The structure of narrow and winding alleys in these villages further hinders fire truck access. For fire trucks to turn, roads need a width of at least 5.5m, but many studio apartment buildings are situated in alleys too narrow for vehicles to pass through. An authority from the fire station added, “On maps, it may appear as if fire trucks can access these areas, but in narrow, winding alleys, the rear of the truck can get stuck. Additionally, obstacles like doorsteps, stairs, and utility poles pose practical challenges.”

Illegal parking is a chronic issue in the studio apartment villages of Gaegeum-dong, Busanjin-gu, where many Dong-Eui and Dongseo University students reside. Many alleys, originally 3–4m wide, had sections reduced to less than 2m due to illegal parking. Lim Cheon (33, Busanjin-gu, Busan), a resident of the studio apartment village area, said, “There’s a truck that has been parked and abandoned in front of my studio apartment for months. In an already narrow space between the buildings, the roads are constantly blocked (by illegally parked vehicles).” He further expressed concern, “Fire trucks are larger than regular trucks, so I think it would be nearly impossible for them to enter these alleys.”

The narrow and steep alleys behind Dong-A University’s Bumin Campus also prevent vehicle access. Despite the high density of studio apartments in the area, obstacles such as alleys narrower than 2.5m, stairs, and steep sidewalks make it difficult for fire trucks to enter. Dong-A University Student A (20) remarked, “The houses near the steep stairs behind the back gate are completely inaccessible by car. To reach them, you’d have to go down through the upper part of the studio apartment village.”

■“Difficulties in Addressing Illegal Parking”

Despite the implementation of measures to address delays in fire response caused by illegal parking, applying these solutions on-site proves to be challenging. Under the revised “Fire Services Act” in 2018, fire trucks can forcibly remove illegally parked vehicles to ensure swift access to fire scenes. However, actual cases of enforcement remain extremely rare. According to the report titled “Limitations and Future Challenges of the Forced Disposal of Illegally Parked Vehicles During Fire Truck Operations,” submitted by the National Fire Agency to the National Assembly Research Service in January this year, there have been only four instances of such enforcement nationwide since the revision (two cases in Seoul, one case in Incheon, and one case in Chungnam). A fire station authority stated, “Even though the law allows us to forcibly push through vehicles, complaints and compensation issues make it difficult to act on this authority.”

Preventing illegal parking in alleyways beforehand is also a challenge. In studio apartment villages where parking spaces are scarce, enforcement efforts often lead to numerous complaints. According to a representative from the Traffic Administration Department of Geumjeong-gu Office, “We enforce violations of the Road Traffic Act and issue fines, but illegal parking persists. Sometimes the same individual is caught repeatedly by the same camera.”

Most studio apartments, typically located in low-rise multi-family buildings, often fall outside the scope of Fire Safety Facility Act or Building Act, increasing fire risks. Many buildings are not designated as targets for fire facility maintenance and management, nor are they subject to newly established fire safety laws. Lee Hee-Doo (Prof. of Fire Protection Engineering, Pukyong National University), explained, "As of December 1st 2024, the Fire Safety Facility Act mandates the installation of simplified sprinkler systems (in collective housing). However, this does not universally apply to all multi-family housing, meaning most older studio apartments built before the law's implementation lack enhanced safety features.”

■Installing Emergency Fire Suppression Systems

Experts recommend installing fire detection and prevention systems to maintain the critical “golden time” for fire suppression, especially if immediate resolution of illegal parking issues is impractical. Lee Jae-Young (Prof. of Architecture, Dong-Eui University), emphasized the importance of installing fire extinguishers and standalone fire detection systems in multi-family housing, as required by Article 10 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Installation and Maintenance of Firefighting Facilities. He said, “If the road structure in studio apartment villages makes fire truck access difficult, emergency fire suppression systems should be installed. Early detection and suppression of fires through such systems can be cost-effective and significantly reduce damage.”

Professor Lee also urged renters to check for fire detectors and extinguishers in their rented studio apartments, suggesting they request installation from landlords or install the equipment themselves. Professor Lee Hee-Doo echoed the importance of individual efforts, stating, “studio apartment property owners should ensure fire suppression, evacuation, and escape facilities are installed and maintained. Residents must familiarize themselves with the locations and operation of fire extinguishers, check their expiration dates, identify escape routes, and learn fire response protocols.”

※ Channel PNU Special Report Team: You Seung-Hyun, Jeong Su-Vin, Jung Yoon-Seo, Seo Young-Chae, Lee Hyeon-Soo

Reporter Channel PNU Special Report Team

Translated by Thadar-Soe