Gochok Dome Roof: 'Reinforce First, Verify Later' — Questions Remain Even After the Lightning-Fast Explanation; Why Verify Now When Construction Was Completed in March?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Gochok Skydome, the country's only domed stadium where tens of thousands of spectators and baseball fans look up at the roof overhead while cheering. The reality revealed by the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit results on the 21st was alarming. It was pointed out that despite the core framework (steel trusses) supporting the roof having bent, Seoul City implemented a half-hearted reinforcement by adding plating to only one side, contrary to recommendations, resulting in insufficient load-bearing capacity.

As the controversy spread, Seoul City immediately issued a press release on the afternoon of the 22nd, the following day, to provide an explanation. The city explained that due to interference with the roof membrane structure, construction according to the original recommendations was impossible, so they found the optimal alternative through expert consultation and completed reinforcement by adding steel plates to a total of 97 trusses in March. It added that 29 AI measurement systems are being operated to monitor roof deformation in real time, and that the weight of performance equipment (rigging) has also been reduced.

However, the more one scrutinizes the explanation, the less easily anxiety subsides. The most unclear point is the order of verification. Seoul City stated that it would "request additional verification from the Korean Society of Steel Construction in November this year," taking into account disaster loads such as heavy snowfall to determine whether the reinforcement method was appropriate. Since construction was already completed in March, this means entrusting precise verification of whether the method was adequate only after eight months have passed.

It is a typical case of "reinforce first, verify later." It amounts to taking action first and seeking to prove its legitimacy afterward. If the November society verification concludes that the load-bearing capacity is insufficient, what then? One cannot help but ask how the safety of the countless citizens who entered and exited the stadium from March to October was guaranteed during that period.

The "AI measurement system," touted for real-time monitoring, also cannot serve as a free pass. Detecting deformation in real time is merely a means to sound an alarm when problems arise; it is not a physical shield that strengthens the roof's inherently weak load-bearing capacity. It is unclear how they intend to handle such a massive crowd if the measurement devices send danger signals while the stadium is at full capacity.

Distrust regarding the basic function of the roof itself remains. During the game between KIA and Kiwoom on August 22 last month, rain leaked into the interior of the domed stadium, causing a farce. However, no fundamental measures to address the leakage issue can be found anywhere in Seoul City's recent announcement. A domed stadium that cannot keep out rain is not merely an inconvenience for spectators. In the case of large concerts where large audio and lighting consoles and wires are tangled on the floor and ceiling, leaks can directly lead to fatal threats such as major electric shocks or fires.

Construction limitations due to site conditions can be taken into consideration. However, safety in multi-user facilities is not an area that can be compromised with post-hoc verification or monitoring alone. Why is the adequacy of the construction completed in March only being questioned now? Facing immediate leaks and the heavy snowfall expected this winter, citizens are still looking up at the roof overhead with anxiety.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original