An international student told me that she knows 119, but it was the first time a stranger had rung her doorbell saying, "I'm here for a gas inspection." If you live alone, it's only natural to be startled. ## Why do they try to come inside your home? City gas comes into your home through pipes. Gas can leak little by little from places like the boiler, the gas stove, and the connecting hose. If a lot of gas leaks out, it can cause a fire or an explosion, so it's dangerous. But small gaps inside a home can't be seen from the outside. So the city gas company, or an inspector under contract with it, visits your home at a set time to check in person. It's something Koreans have seen since childhood, so they don't find it strange. ## Can you trust a stranger? Before an inspection, a notice is usually posted at the building entrance or on your front door. So check first whether there was a notice. The inspector will have an ID card or a certificate. It isn't rude to ask them to show it to you through the intercom before you open the door. If it still seems suspicious, don't open the door and ask the building management office or your landlord. You can also call the city gas company to check whether there is an inspection today. How often it happens, whether every few months or so, can vary by region and company, so it's best to check the notice or the gas company's website. ## When you're not home, and when you smell gas If you won't be home at the inspection time, you can call the number on the notice and pick another day. The inspection often doesn't take long. Once you set a time, you just need to be home then. If you smell gas, don't wait for the inspection. Don't turn on any flame or light switch, and open the windows. Then go outside and call 119 or the gas company.