Korea Forest Service "Protecting Critical Facilities Such as Nuclear Power Plants and Cultural Heritage from Wildfires"

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service is taking measures to prevent wildfire damage to nationally important facilities such as nuclear power plants, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, and cultural heritage sites.

The Korea Forest Service recently announced the "2023 National Comprehensive Wildfire Prevention Plan," which includes these measures.

According to the comprehensive plan, the Korea Forest Service will strengthen real-time wildfire monitoring and response capabilities for nationally important facilities such as nuclear power plants, gas facilities, transmission facilities, and cultural heritage sites through an information and communication technology (ICT)-based "Wildfire Situation Control System."

The Wildfire Situation Control System is a system that allows integrated monitoring of wildfire occurrence locations, fire lines, progression directions, surrounding facilities, and firefighting resources. It was established in 2014 and has undergone continuous upgrades.

The establishment of a protection and response system for nationally important facilities is closely related to recent situations where wildfires threatened such facilities.

For example, the Uljin wildfire in March last year spread flames up to the hill behind the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant’s barrier, threatening nuclear safety. As the wildfire spread to Gangwon Province, part of the Eodal Mountain Beacon Tower (Gangwon Province Monument No. 13) in Donghae City was destroyed, causing actual damage.

To prevent such incidents from recurring, the Korea Forest Service plans to create wildfire prevention safety zones around nuclear power plants, LNG and oil storage facilities, and industrial complexes, secure firefighting equipment independently, and conduct joint firefighting drills to focus on preventing wildfire damage.

Additionally, in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Forest Service will strengthen safety management of transmission towers and power lines within forests and plans to deploy wildfire retardants near transmission towers to prevent wildfire spread if a fire occurs nearby.

Furthermore, to enhance wildfire response capabilities in the East Coast area, where large wildfires have occurred consecutively, the Korea Forest Service will establish the "National East Coast Wildfire Prevention Center (Uljin)" and strengthen the on-site deployment of special wildfire disaster firefighting teams and firefighting equipment.

Nam Sung-hyun, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, stated, "The Korea Forest Service will take the lead in establishing an organic cooperative relationship with local governments, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of National Defense, the National Fire Agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration, and the National Police Agency to effectively respond to wildfire disasters. We also ask for the public’s cooperation and interest so that Korea can become a country safe from wildfires."