Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zackback]

http://news.yahoo.com/karaoke-lounge-fire-kills-nine-south-koreans-021458285.html

A fierce blaze swept through a karaoke lounge in the South Korean city of Busan killing nine people and injuring 20, police said on Sunday.

The fire broke out on Saturday night in one of the establishment's 28 rooms, police said, and witnesses reported hearing a loud bang before smoke quickly engulfed the bar, on the third floor of a six-storey building.

The dead included two women and three Sri Lankan workers who were holding a company party with Korean colleagues, the Yonhap news agency said.

The 20 injured were taken to hospital for treatment.

Smoke and fumes spread quickly, making it hard for people to find the exits, and most of those killed died from inhaling toxic gases, Yonhap said.

About 100 firefighters battled the blaze as dozens of people evacuated the building, it said.

It was not immediately clear what started the fire and an investigation was under way.

In January 2009, at least eight people were killed in a fire in another karaoke lounge in the major southern port city.

Investigators blamed lax fire precautions and suspected staff negligence for the blaze, which gutted the basement bar in the Yongdo district.

[fosterman]

probably a cigarette or old electrical wiring, man those kareoke bars are death traps man. no fire exits, no sprinkler systems, Korean governments don't have penalties for building owners here. they let them just keep their buildings in those conditions, it's amazing how many old buildings I see everywhere , the governments don't force them to paint them, do repairs, get up to safety standards etc. where I am from as a building owner you are subjected to so many rules and regulations, but here, owners are just using their buildings as ATMS and never look at them again.

[GoldMember]

It's the Sri Lankans fault!

[Zackback]

I remember the Sampoong Department Store collapse. It happened right before I came to Korea for the first time.

http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/analysis/compare/sampoong.html

[Kimchifart]

[CentralCali]

[orosee]

I'm sure they're making it much better than the Sampoong owners, but I thought I'd just mention that the expansion of the Hyundai department store at Samseong/COEX is not just "around the waist" as it looks from the street (adding a few sqm to each floor by extending its footprint). From my office on the 16th floor I can see that they have raised the walls over the original roof by 2-3 floors. Now that's either just a facade to make the store look taller than it is, or they're really adding more floors.

Just thought you should know in case you're rich and nervous.