Fire chief ’s investigation prompts massive recall to prevent further vehicle fires
Yang Won-seok, a 44-yearold fire investigator stationed at Yongin Fire Station in Gyeonggi Province, has spearheaded a proactive vehicle recall after uncovering a critical component in certain vehicles that poses a fire hazard.
This initiative stems from Yang’s comprehensive investigations into incidents involving vehicle fires, underscoring his dedication to public safety and the proactive prevention of potential dangers on the road.
According to the Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters, Yang initially encountered an engine fire in a Renault Korea Motors’ SM3 at his apartment’s parking lot while working at Uiwang Fire Station in 2021.
After he started working at Yongin Fire Station in January 2022, he observed two more cases of engine fires in the same vehicle model within the Yongin area alone.
Concerned for public safety, Yang initiated an investigation into 17 fire cases involving the same vehicle models that took place in Gyeonggi Province over a decade — from December 2014 to June 2023.
His findings confirmed that the fires were caused by poor ground wiring connected to the brake lock prevention module in vehicles
“
I simply wanted to
make a modest contribution to fire prevention through an accurate analysis of the causes of fire
cases that could happen in the future.
”
produced between 2005 and 2016.
In response, Yang requested the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to review the vehicle’s defect data in July last year.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport acknowledged the vehicle defects based on investigations of the fire sites and technical analyses provided by Yang.
Consequently, the manufacturer recalled 83,574 vehicles produced from July 2005 to December 2010.
The Korea Transportation Safety Authority also recognized Yang’s contribution, expressing appreciation for his active investigation in preventing car fire incidents.
Yang emphasized the value he feels in being a fire investigator, noting that the government’s decision to confirm vehicle defects and initiate a large-scale recall resulted from doubts raised during his fire investigations.
“I simply wanted to make a modest contribution to fire prevention through an accurate analysis of the causes of fire cases that could happen in the future,” Yang said.