Ministry of the Interior and Safety, National Police Agency, and National Fire Agency Work Report
Proactive Prediction and Preparedness for New Risks and Disasters
[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will completely overhaul the national safety system in response to the October 29 disaster. In addition, to strengthen regional autonomy, it will transfer special local administrative agencies to local governments, while also promoting the relocation of metropolitan area companies to provinces and strengthening support for regionally based companies.
On the 27th, Minister of the Interior and Safety Sang-min Lee reported these key points, including the '5 Major Promises' and '15 Practical Tasks,' to President Yoon Suk-yeol during the '2023 Major Work Promotion Plan' briefing held at the Blue House State Guest House.
The Ministry selected the following as the five major promises and core tasks for this year: ▲ A country where daily life is safe ▲ A vibrant era of local autonomy ▲ A government that works well ▲ Overcoming crises together ▲ A mature community. Through these, the ministry aims to realize a "government that works well and a safe country where everyone prospers together."
First, the Ministry will completely overhaul the national safety system. The comprehensive measures are fundamentally aimed at preventing crowd accidents like the Itaewon disaster, and further, the basic direction is to completely reform the entire national safety management system to predict and prepare for new risks and disasters in advance and respond effectively. Additionally, it plans to establish a perfect readiness posture by developing a realistic wargame-style Ulchi Exercise model.
To this end, it announced five major strategies and 65 tasks: ▲ Strengthening new risk prediction and constant preparedness systems ▲ Transitioning to disaster safety management systems that operate on-site ▲ Scientific disaster safety management based on digital platforms ▲ Strengthening resilience through practical damage support ▲ Activating safety management centered on private sector participation and collaboration.
Furthermore, to open a full-fledged era of local autonomy, it will actively pursue tasks such as transferring special local administrative agencies to local governments and redefining the relationship between general autonomy and educational autonomy. It will also create institutional conditions to promote the relocation of metropolitan companies to provinces and strengthen support for regionally based companies.
The Ministry plans to strengthen its role as a platform supporting the resolution of current issues faced by various ministries and agencies, and accelerate innovations such as expanding private sector access to public services so that citizens can use public services more conveniently.
Moreover, to lead a pan-government effort to overcome the current complex economic and livelihood crisis, it will focus all efforts on industrial promotion in areas such as safety, address information, digital government, and outdoor advertising, and actively work to alleviate excessive tax burdens on citizens to revive livelihoods.
In addition, to advance as a developed country, it plans to make every effort to create a mature community essential for this goal by enhancing transparency in subsidies and donations, resolving historical issues, and revitalizing volunteer activities.
Meanwhile, this work report was conducted together with the National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency. The Police Agency will secure public safety and establish strict law and order. It will eradicate malicious fraud and drug crimes and strengthen protection measures for crime victims. Furthermore, it will prepare for the changing security environment by establishing a solid safety system and promoting future policing projects.
The National Fire Agency will strengthen the firefighting response system focusing on field and prevention. It will enhance management of fire-prone areas such as construction sites and logistics warehouses and improve on-site capabilities. By acquiring firefighting equipment such as small vessels (500-ton class) and improving the 119 emergency call system, it will establish a proactive disaster response foundation.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Sang-min Lee said, “The year 2023 is a very important year to overcome the current complex economic and livelihood crisis and prepare for a new leap for future generations,” adding, “The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will work with the police and fire departments to fully commit to realizing a government that works well and a safe country where everyone prospers together.”
He also emphasized, “We will frequently and thoroughly inform the public about the progress of the five major promises and 15 practical tasks reported today, and swiftly produce tangible results that the public can feel.”
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