IG reports hundreds of housing code violations on US bases in S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea An Inspector Generals report has cited hundreds of potentially dangerous housing code violations, ranging from missing sprinkler systems to exposed copper wiring, in U.S. military housing in South Korea, although only 11 were considered serious.

Most of the violations were related to inadequate upkeep of housing facilities, according to the Oct. 28 report, which found that housing visits and inspections were not being conducted in accordance with established instructions and procedures.

Twelve percent of the occupied buildings at 13 U.S. Forces Korea military installations ranging from family housing to barracks and dormitories for unaccompanied servicemembers were reviewed during the IGs March 10 to April 24 inspections. The checks found 646 deficiencies in 277 units, mechanical rooms and common areas.

The 11 critical deficiencies included an out-of-service fire alarm system at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, which left the occupants of one building with no means of fire detection. Furnaces in two other buildings at the Seoul base were leaking heating oil onto an electric blower motor, posing a fire hazard.

At Camp Jackson, one building was not electrically grounded according to code, posing the possibility of electrocution. Four buildings at Camp Bonifas lacked carbon monoxide alarms.

An improperly bonded conductor at Camp Stanley posed a fire, shock and electrocution risk, and four buildings lacked carbon monoxide alarms.

Camp Humphreys had three fire or electrocution risks, including a building that was not grounded per code and an extension drop cord in another that was improperly wired. Energized copper wire was exposed in an elevator equipment room.

The 11 violations were deemed critical enough to require immediate attention; all have been corrected since the spring inspections or were expected to be completed last summer, according to correspondence from installation officials included in the IG report.

The health and safety of our service members and their families in Korea is a top priority, USFK said in an email. As a result, the affected service components have taken and continue to take corrective action.

Overall, the IG inspection found poor record keeping and overworked housing workers.

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IG reports hundreds of housing code violations on US bases in S. Korea