Announcement of Key National Fire Agency Policies for Citizens and Firefighters
R&D for Battery Fires and Sinkhole Response
Firefighting Industry Exports... Introduction of "Technology Commercialization Research System"
5 Billion Won Allocated for Mental Health Management
Expansion of Counseling Staff
The National Fire Agency will invest 50.3 billion won next year in "practical research and development (R&D)" to ensure swift disaster response. This represents a 65% increase compared to this year, and nearly 5 billion won has also been allocated for the mental health management of firefighters.
On September 9, the National Fire Agency announced its main policies aimed at strengthening the safety of both citizens and firefighters.
This set of measures follows up on President Lee Jaemyung's remarks at the Cabinet meeting in July, where he emphasized that "the protection of citizens and the safety of firefighters are the top priorities," stressing the need to establish a robust response system. As a priority, the agency will embark on "practical research and development" that can be immediately deployed in daily life and at disaster sites. The National Fire Agency has finalized its 2026 fire safety R&D budget at 50.3 billion won, a 64.9% increase from the previous year. Based on this, it will strengthen its in-house research capabilities. Efforts will be accelerated to develop technologies for responding to large-capacity battery fires, such as those in electric buses, as well as to create rescue and search equipment and personal protective gear for firefighters to enable rapid response to natural disasters like landslides and sinkholes.
The "2026-2030 Fire Safety R&D Master Plan" will be established within this year to proactively address rapidly changing disaster environments and evolving public safety needs. In August, the agency completed on-site evaluations of ten advanced defense technologies?including strength-enhancing suits, unmanned underwater search vessels, and plasma sterilizers?in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. These technologies will be adapted for firefighting applications and are scheduled for commercialization in 2027.
The "Defense-Firefighting R&D Technology Council," which oversees these initiatives, has also been launched, creating a structure for close collaboration among the Agency for Defense Development, the National Fire Research Institute, and other organizations. By sharing research needs and plans between the defense and firefighting sectors and promoting joint research and development, the aim is to enhance both the efficiency of national finances and the practical utility of these technologies in the field.
Efforts will also be made to foster the growth of the domestic firefighting industry and strengthen its connection to exports. Notably, a "technology commercialization research system" will be introduced to ensure that research outcomes can be immediately utilized in the field. Through this system, innovative products will be designated as such and supported for rapid entry into the public procurement market.
Support measures for firefighters who are repeatedly exposed to disaster sites have also been included. As of last year, the annual number of dispatches by firefighters totaled 5.35 million, meaning they respond to approximately 14,000 disaster sites each day, resulting in significant mental and physical burdens. Accordingly, the National Fire Agency has set the 2026 budget for firefighter health and safety support at 5.1 billion won, an 8% increase from the previous year. Of this, the budget related to mental health accounts for 4.8 billion won, or 94% of the total. Based on this, the agency will expand the number of counselors for the "Mobile Counseling Office" program to 146 and, through phased recruitment, establish a "one counselor per fire station" system.
In addition, the National Fire Hospital, scheduled to officially open in June next year, will feature a mental health center to strengthen support for professional trauma recovery and mental health improvement for firefighters. The agency also plans to bolster the activities of dedicated teams for work-related injury certification and compensation, aiming to minimize the burden of proof when firefighters apply for medical leave due to mental health issues. Commissioner Heo Seokgon of the National Fire Agency stated, "We will prioritize protecting the lives and safety of the public and prepare scientifically for upcoming changes in the disaster environment," adding, "We will also do our utmost to safeguard the health and safety of firefighters who are dedicated on the front lines to protecting lives."
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