Questioning safety

From left: Yang Seong-hwan, a professor at Incheon National University; Han Cheon-goo, a professor at Cheongju University; and Jang Duk-bae, a professor at Dongyang Mirae University, answer questions about the crack found in the Lotte World Mall parking lot on Thursday at a press conference Friday organized by the Korea Institute of Building Construction at Lotte Hotel in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul. Han said the crack in the concrete surface was caused by changes in temperature and added that it is not serious enough to be a major safety concern. Despite assurances from experts, the public’s worries over the new Lotte World Mall continue to grow. Last month, Lotte was also confronted with questions over safety when its aquarium was found to have a crack that leaked water. In two other incidents, moviegoers were evacuated after they felt the theater trembling and one shopper in her 20s was injured when a glass door fell on her. [NEWSIS]