[2022 National Audit] "Moon Administration Converted Firefighters to National Employees but Organizational Structure and System Remain Unchanged"

Assemblyman Jung Woo-taek "Only Fire Safety Grant Tax Increased, No Real Change in Treatment or Task Performance
Fire Commissioner Still Must Request Support from City/Province Headquarters in Major Disasters
'Moon Only Takes Credit and Shifts Burden to Next Government'"

The Firefighters' Labor Union of the Korean Government Employees' Labor Union Confederation held a rally on January 17 near the Blue House in Jongno-gu, Seoul, condemning the government and urging the punishment of those responsible for the fatal fire accident at the Pyeongtaek logistics warehouse construction site and the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Although all firefighters nationwide have been converted to national government employees, it has been revealed that the organizational structure and system have not substantially changed.

According to data received by Rep. Jeong Woo-taek of the People Power Party from the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 5th, while the firefighting safety grant tax was increased from 20% to 45% when firefighters were converted to national employees, there were no changes in the organizational structure, treatment, or job performance related to firefighters compared to before the transition.

For example, except for the heads of fire departments in each city and province, the personnel authority of local fire agencies lies with the respective city or provincial governors. It remains in the existing form where the Commissioner of the National Fire Agency requests support from each city or provincial headquarters during major disasters, leading to repeated criticism that there are limitations in exercising command and supervisory authority.

In contrast, in the case of the police, personnel authority for ranks of Senior Superintendent (grade 5) or higher, corresponding to regional police chiefs, lies with the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, enabling comprehensive central command and control.

Also, although the personnel expenses for firefighters, who are national public officials, should be paid from the national budget, local governments still bear these costs. The proportion of national funding support for firefighters' personnel expenses is only about 10%. In 2020, out of 4.0546 trillion KRW in firefighters' personnel expenses, 329.7 billion KRW (8.1%) was paid through the firefighting safety grant tax; last year, 4.5736 trillion KRW (12.1%) was paid, and this year, out of 4.8987 trillion KRW, 466.4 billion KRW (9.5%) was paid through the firefighting safety grant tax.

Furthermore, from 2023 to 2030, due to the increase in seniority levels of newly recruited personnel, the actual required amount is 6.6846 trillion KRW, but national funding for personnel expenses over the next eight years is only 4 trillion KRW, resulting in a shortfall of 2.6846 trillion KRW. This burden is passed on to local governments.

Rep. Jeong Woo-taek stated, "Over the past three years, there has been no reason found for converting firefighters to national public officials under the Moon Jae-in administration. In short, 'firefighters have become nominal national public officials,'" and criticized, "Ultimately, the Moon Jae-in administration only took credit while shifting the actual burden and responsibility to the next government."