"Effective Increase of 74.4 Billion Won"
182 Billion Won Allocated for Special Firefighting Equipment
In Line with Government Policy
The National Fire Agency has allocated 329.5 billion won for next year’s budget. The agency aims to strengthen the safety net directly linked to the daily lives of citizens and expand investments in advanced disaster response technologies.
On September 3, the National Fire Agency announced that it has set the 2026 government budget at 329.5 billion won, a 0.5% decrease from the previous year’s 331.1 billion won. Although the overall amount has decreased, the agency explained that, excluding completed projects such as the construction of the National Fire Hospital, the effective budget has actually increased by 74.4 billion won. In particular, the budget for research and development (R&D) has been expanded by 64.9%.
To expand special firefighting equipment for use in wildfires and chemical disasters, 18.2 billion won will be invested. This includes the introduction of one medium-sized helicopter for wildfire suppression, four ultra-large water tank vehicles, and two high-performance chemical fire trucks. In addition, a medium-capacity foam spraying system that can be operated by a small team will be distributed to chemical centers at the four Central 119 Rescue Headquarters nationwide.
Furthermore, a budget has been set to supply smoke detectors to 1,498,000 aging apartment units nationwide over three years from 2026 to 2028. There is also funding to install emergency fire extinguishing devices in 2,280 villages adjacent to forests from 2026 to 2030. These are long-term measures aimed at enhancing fire safety in residential and living spaces, while also preemptively preventing the frequent spread of large-scale wildfires.
The firefighting R&D budget has increased by 64.9% year-on-year to 50.3 billion won. Previously, President Lee Jaemyung instructed the agency to further strengthen public safety and enhance the protection of firefighters by boosting R&D capabilities necessary for the introduction of advanced firefighting equipment. A total of 17 projects will be pursued, including five new initiatives such as the development of firefighting technologies to address future infrastructure fire risks and the development of response technologies for complex disasters driven by climate change.
Support to protect the mental and physical health of firefighters who are continuously exposed to disaster sites will also be strengthened. Eighteen additional counselors will be assigned to mobile counseling offices, and the number of participants in stress resilience programs will be expanded by 200. A total of 5.1 billion won has been allocated for health and safety projects.
For the operation of the National Fire Hospital, which will officially open in June after a pilot phase in March next year, 39.4 billion won will be invested. The National Fire Hospital is the nation’s first specialized medical institution dedicated to treating job-related illnesses and managing exposure to hazardous agents among firefighters.
In addition to the general account, a separate fund of 977.5 billion won has been secured. This includes 14.4 billion won from the National Property Management Fund for the construction of the Firefighters’ Mind and Body Training Center, 42.2 billion won from the Emergency Medical Fund for expanding rescue and emergency equipment, and 920.9 billion won from the Fire Safety Grant Tax.
Oh Seunghoon, Director of Planning and Coordination at the National Fire Agency, stated, "This budget focuses on further strengthening the safety net that is directly connected to the daily lives of citizens and laying the foundation for future disaster preparedness by incorporating advanced technology. Even amid fiscal innovation, we will continue to expand fire services that the public can truly feel."
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