National Assembly Must Also Take Action for Wildfire Prevention... Representative Kim Daesik Proposes Amendment to Forest Disaster Prevention Act

Proactive Response to Wildfire Threats
Establishing Advanced Surveillance Systems

"The National Assembly must also take action to prevent wildfire disasters."

Kim Daesik, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee (People Power Party, Sasang District, Busan), proposed a revision to the "Forest Disaster Prevention Act" on the 14th to proactively respond to disasters such as wildfires.

Kim stated that he proposed the amendment to preemptively address wildfire disasters caused by climate change and to introduce surveillance and prediction systems utilizing advanced scientific technology.

This amendment allows local government heads and the head of the Korea Forest Service to designate and manage areas with a high risk of wildfires as "wildfire-vulnerable areas" after conducting a status survey. It also enables the designation of evacuation shelters and the installation of signs when necessary.

Additionally, the amendment establishes a legal basis for utilizing wildfire detection and monitoring equipment based on advanced scientific technology, such as CCTV, drones, and thermal imaging devices.

Ten People Power Party lawmakers, including Kim Sanghoon (Seogu, Daegu), Kim Jeongjae (Bukgu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk), Kim Yeji (Proportional Representative), Kim Seongyo (Yeoju-si and Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi), Park Deokheum (Boeun-gun, Okcheon-gun, Yeongdong-gun, and Goesan-gun, Chungbuk), Seo Jiyeong (Dongnae-gu, Busan), Lee Manhee (Yeongcheon-si and Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk), Cho Kyungtae (Saha-gu-eul, Busan), and Cho Jeonghun (Mapo-gu-gap, Seoul), participated in this amendment, forming a consensus for the scientific and institutional advancement of the wildfire disaster response system.

Kim pointed out, "This spring's large-scale wildfires were a typical example of a complex disaster," and added, "Amid record-high temperatures and severe drought, wildfires occurred simultaneously in 11 regions nationwide, burning a total of 48,238 hectares, resulting in 31 deaths and over 3,000 displaced people."

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a total of 226 temporary evacuation shelters were set up in the affected areas, and 1,762 households, totaling 3,031 residents, evacuated their homes. Areas such as Andong, Uiseong, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok in Gyeongbuk have repeatedly experienced large-scale wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for constant monitoring and region-specific evacuation systems.

Currently, the Forest Disaster Prevention Act stipulates regulations for landslide status surveys, designation of vulnerable areas, and installation of evacuation shelters, but lacks legal provisions for wildfire prevention and response. In particular, all wildfire monitors are operated with local government funds, and of the 1,446 wildfire monitoring cameras installed nationwide, 1,220 units (84%) are operated solely with local government budgets.

Kim Daesik emphasized, "Modernizing the wildfire prevention system is urgent," and said, "To reduce recurring wildfire damage in the era of climate crisis, we must establish surveillance and prediction systems utilizing advanced technologies such as drones, CCTV, and thermal imaging equipment."

He added, "Especially in situations where wildfires repeatedly occur in the same area, designating wildfire-vulnerable areas and securing evacuation infrastructure is more important than anything else," and pledged, "I will do my best in legislation so that citizens affected by wildfires can return to their daily lives as quickly as possible and fulfill the nation's responsibility."

Assemblyman DaeSik Kim is proposing a bill at the National Assembly.