By Kim Se-jeong
The government is seeking to tighten regulations for asbestos management.
The Ministry of Environment said Tuesday it will expand a list of private after-school academies to conduct a biannual asbestos inspection on their facilities.
Asbestos comes in many forms and long-term exposure causes cancer.
Currently, academies more than 1,000 square meters in size are required to conduct the inspection, but under the revised regulations, which will go into effect later this week, the number will be down to 430 square meters.
The inspection has been around since 2012 when legislation on asbestos safety management became law. The law currently requires the test on buildings used by children ― schools, kindergartens, daycare centers and academies ― and built before 2009. Violators can be punished with a fine of up to 10 million won.
According to the modified rules, the building owners will also have to conduct an air quality test inside the building periodically.
Tuesday's move is part of the government's ongoing measures to protect public health from cancer-causing asbestos. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asbestos can cause laryngeal, lung and ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is found in many construction materials, such as insulation, floor backing and drywall taping compounds and adhesives. It's also used in vinyl products, cigarette filters, fume hoods and fireproofing and fire-prevention materials.
The government's regulations are diverse. In 2011, the government banned asbestos-containing materials in construction. Currently, all building owners must conduct the asbestos test before demolishing their buildings. The government subsidizes the treatment of old asbestos collected from demolished buildings and assists those who suffer health problems from the substance. For factories manufacturing asbestos-containing products, the government also demands tight emissions regulations.
Asbestos was a symbol of Korea's industrialization. Countless high-rise buildings constructed during the 1970s and 80s used materials containing asbestos. Corrugated asbestos roofs were sold to rural homeowners as a fast and affordable building material. Some even grilled meat on asbestos roof tiles for its particular taste.
The silicate mineral caused the death of many people over the years, mostly workers at construction sites. From 2011, the government began offering compensation to the relatives of those who died of and fell sick because of exposure to asbestos. In total, 2,334 people have received compensation, according to the ministry. The WHO said currently almost 125 million people around the world are exposed to the material at work. In 2014, 107,000 deaths were caused by asbestos-related illnesses.
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