Gyeonggi Fire Headquarters Implements Fire Safety Measures for Foreign Seasonal Workers

The Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters is implementing customized fire safety management measures ahead of the Chuseok holiday and the arrival of more than 5,000 foreign seasonal workers.

The headquarters announced on September 15 that, with 5,258 foreign seasonal workers expected to enter the province this year, it is developing and carrying out tailored fire safety management measures focused on sites where foreign workers are active, such as rural areas.

This year, foreign seasonal workers will be assigned to 1,429 households across 20 cities and counties in the province, with 5,138 workers concentrated in agricultural regions such as Yongin and Yeoju.

The main measures include: on-site safety guidance for vulnerable facilities such as dormitories and greenhouses; fire safety education for foreign workers; guidance on preventing fires caused by electric heaters and heating devices; and strengthening on-site response by fire officials.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters is visiting foreign workers' dormitories to provide fire safety inspection training. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters

In particular, the headquarters will focus on recommending the installation of arc fault circuit interrupters and checking the availability of fire extinguishers in seasonal workers' dormitories to block fires at an early stage.

Additionally, with many foreign workers expected to remain in Gyeonggi Province during the Chuseok holiday, the headquarters will conduct on-site inspections and fire prevention campaigns, especially in rural areas.

Kim Jaebyung, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "Foreign seasonal workers are an essential and valuable workforce on-site. We will thoroughly manage any safety blind spots that may arise due to language and cultural differences, ensuring that everyone in Gyeonggi Province is safe from fires."

Meanwhile, over the past five years (2020-2024), there have been a total of 133 foreign casualties due to fires in the province, with the number steadily increasing each year. Notably, 39% of fatalities occurred in residential facilities such as dormitories and greenhouses.