"Should Firefighters Also Pay Door Fees?" Gwangju Mayor Faces Compensation Crisis

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung: "The Administration Will Take Responsibility"
Support Decided After Loss Compensation Committee Meeting

During the search and rescue operation at the fire scene, the front door was damaged, putting the fire department in a position where they had to pay compensation. In response, Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung stepped forward, saying, "The administration will take responsibility."

A fire broke out last month on the 11th at a villa in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Gwangju Northern Fire Station

On the 24th, Mayor Kang posted on Facebook, "Should the firefighter who entered the burning villa to save residents have to pay for the front door repair?" and answered, "No. The administration will take responsibility."

He emphasized, "Firefighters rushing into flames should not have to worry about compensation," adding, "The same applies to unavoidable damages to residents. We will protect citizens' safety through insurance systems and loss compensation budgets."

Last month, the Gwangju Northern Fire Station responded to a fire at a villa in Sinan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. During the evacuation of residents, the front door was forcibly opened, damaging the lock and the door itself. Typically, property damage incurred during fire suppression is compensated by the homeowner of the affected unit through fire insurance. However, since a resident in their 30s living in the unit where the fire started died, liability for compensation could not be assigned.

As a result, villa residents demanded that the fire department compensate for the damaged front door and lock caused by the forced entry. The fire department, burdened with compensation responsibility, inquired with their existing administrative liability insurance company about the possibility of insurance coverage but received a response that it was "not possible." This insurance only covers losses caused by firefighters' mistakes or illegal acts. The insurer judged that damages incurred during lawful search and rescue operations could not be compensated. Since the property was damaged during a legitimate life-saving procedure, the insurer stated that compensation should be paid by the homeowner's fire insurance company.

It was reported on the 23rd that the fire department, unable to receive insurance payouts, had to bear compensation costs amounting to 1.3 million KRW per household, totaling approximately 8 million KRW for six households.

Following this, public opinion surged. The system that forces firefighters to bear damages incurred during fire suppression and rescue operations came under scrutiny. In response, Gwangju City announced that, after review by the Loss Compensation Deliberation Committee, it would compensate for the costs of replacing the damaged entrance doors. The city plans to assess the exact material damages caused by the fire and, through a review and resolution process, compensate the heads of households whose front doors were damaged.