Fire Agency's 'Disaster Compensation Task Force'... "Approval Rate Up 3.8%"

Application Rate for Public Service Increased by 8.9%

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The National Fire Agency announced on the 6th the results of analyzing the performance of the 'Central and Provincial Firefighters' Integrated Disaster Compensation Operations' initiative, which was promoted to improve the approval rate of work-related medical care for firefighters.

Previously, in November last year, the National Fire Agency established a dedicated disaster compensation team to improve the difficulties individual firefighters faced in proving their cases during the approval process for work-related medical care after injuries sustained during firefighting activities.

Since then, from November 3 last year to January 31 this year, the total number of disaster compensation-related cases was 944, including 296 received, 303 supplemented, 319 processed, and 26 others (proof support, legal support, on-site investigation).

Analyzing the results of the three-month operation, the unification of the disaster compensation work window for firefighters increased the rate of work-related injury applications within 40 days after an accident from the previous 17.0% to 25.9%, an increase of 8.9%, indicating a shortened application period.

Furthermore, consistent proof support and improvements in legal and medical expertise reduced the rate of supplementary documents for proving work-relatedness from 61.9% to 49.4%, a decrease of 12.5%. This led to an increase in the approval rate for work-related medical care, achieving a comprehensive performance improvement from 88.30% in 2021 to 92.1% after integrated operations, a 3.8% increase (based on approval decision statistics).

The National Fire Agency plans to continue systematic operations of disaster compensation work by ▲producing and promoting YouTube videos related to disaster compensation ▲analyzing quarterly approval rates for work-related medical care ▲systematizing and expanding proof and legal support ▲activating advance payment of treatment costs to support early treatment and return of injured firefighters ▲and tracking through statistical management of the ‘Fire Health e-System’, aiming to create conditions where firefighters can fully focus on their duties.

Nam Hwayeong, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, “The goal of integrated disaster compensation operations is to ensure that those who have been injured or sacrificed while dedicating themselves to the country can receive compensation quickly and without difficulty.” He added, “The National Fire Agency will continue to do its best to improve the treatment and morale of firefighters so that their dedication to the nation and the people is not in vain.”