Inspectors from the Ministry of Public Safety and Security check cracks in an aquarium at the second Lotte World, southern Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min

A government inspection team has found at least three water leaks from an aquarium inside the second Lotte World, southern Seoul, with two of them still unrepaired, officials said Wednesday.

As a result of the inspection, the government may take stern action ― a temporary closure of the aquarium ― against Lotte, which has been under constant public and media scrutiny since the partial opening of the building in October.

The 11-member team, composed of officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Public Safety and Security, announced the results after conducting an on-site inspection of the aquarium.

"We conducted a one-hour investigation and discovered two additional water-leaking cracks on the side of the tank where Beluga whales are kept, besides the crack in the main water tank reported Tuesday. We suspect there will be more cracks that haven't been found yet," said an official at the aquarium after the inspection.

They also discovered two thick carpets and numerous towels near the tank, in addition to a wall nearby, that were wet.

The team said they will demand Lotte launch a comprehensive investigation of the entire site to ensure public safety.

The need for further investigation comes from increasing public concern about a three-story underground 154,000-volt transformer substation sitting right below the aquarium.

If the tank ruptures, it could cause a massive disaster, officials said.

"We are planning to conduct an investigation at the substation as well to gauge the possibility of an accident," said the official.

More investigations will be conducted by additional experts through Thursday. The government will then decide whether administrative action should be taken, officials added.

Lotte said it is normal for some cracks to be found in new aquariums and they are not dangerous if properly repaired, citing a statement from Reynolds Polymer Technology, which built the aquarium.

The second Lotte World recreation complex has been under constant public concern over safety.

On Nov. 3, a 50-centimeter crack was found in the ceiling of the eighth floor of one of the buildings, and a number of sinkholes were found in roads nearby.

Civic groups have long urged Lotte to beef up safety measures in order to prevent accidents, saying public safety should always precede corporate interest.