Interior ministry flags boat and winter leisure risks in new disaster report

The interior ministry said Thursday it has published a disaster-risk analysis report identifying potential hazards in vessel operations on inland waters and in winter outdoor leisure activities, as growing recreational use of rivers and lakes outpaces safety management.

On inland waterways, the spread of new boating routes and the arrival of marina vessels such as yachts means many different craft now share limited stretches of water, raising the risk of collisions. It recommended stronger safety inspections of vessels, operating-control standards tailored to the geography and environment of each waterway, and better information sharing among the relevant ministries so that vessel business zones can be managed systematically.

On winter recreation, the report warned that repeated rises and falls in temperature under climate change are weakening ice and increasing the likelihood of accidents such as ice breaking underfoot. Current safety guidelines for winter leisure facilities cover mostly indoor venues, and the ministry recommended expanding them to outdoor facilities and actively publicizing dangerous conditions for activities that rely on natural ice.

The ministry said it will share the report with related agencies and continue to issue such reports on a regular basis. It is available on the website of the National Disaster Management Research Institute.

"To build a country where everyone is safe, it is important to identify potential risks in advance and work with relevant ministries to resolve them together," said Kim Kwang-yong, head of the ministry's disaster and safety management headquarters. The government will stay a step ahead in finding hidden disaster risks and will keep improving safety-related systems and standards with related agencies, he added.