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Busan to Install Manhole Fall-Prevention Devices in Priority Management Zones

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will install manhole fall-prevention devices in all manholes located within flood-prone priority management zones during the second half of this year to strengthen public safety.

○ This initiative comes in response to a recent pedestrian safety accident caused by an open manhole cover in Yeonsan-dong, Yeonje-gu, and aims to enhance pedestrian protection citywide.

The recent accident in Yeonsan-dong occurred when a pedestrian fell into an open manhole after its cover was dislodged due to heavy rainfall. The manhole in question was installed prior to 2022, before the fall-prevention device requirement became mandatory.

○ In 2022, the Ministry of Environment revised the national sewer design standards, requiring the installation of fall-prevention devices in priority management zones as a safety measure against manhole cover dislodgement during flooding.

○ While newly installed manholes are already subject to these updated standards, retrofitting all existing manholes within a short timeframe is challenging. Thus, the City plans to prioritize upgrades in frequently flooded areas first.

By the end of June, the City will complete a comprehensive inspection of approximately 174,484 manholes citywide. It plans to install fall-prevention devices on all manholes (approximately 14,000) located in flood-prone zones during the second half of 2025.

Lee Byung-seok, Director of the Environmental Water Policy Office, stated,
“We will complete the installation of fall-prevention devices in all manholes within priority flood-prone areas by the second half of this year, and beginning next year, we will gradually expand installation to other general areas as well.”
He added, “The City of Busan will continue doing its utmost to ensure a safe urban environment for all citizens.”

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Appendix: Overview of Manhole Fall-Prevention Device Installation

◦ Inspection Target: 174,484 sewer manholes across Busan
◦ Inspection and Installation Schedule:

• ●June 2025: Complete citywide inspection

• ●July – December 2025: Install fall-prevention devices in manholes located in priority flood-prone zones