Announcement of "Measures to Strengthen Organizations and Personnel for Enhanced Accountability and Competence in Disaster and Safety Management"
Maximum Emergency Duty Allowance Raised: From 8,000 Won per Day/120,000 Won per Month to 16,000 Won per Day/180,000 Won per Month
Support for All Local Governments to Operate 24-Hour Disaster Situation Management Systems
The government will expand allowances for public officials responsible for disaster and safety management, who protect the lives and safety of the public, and will also strengthen promotion benefits. In addition, to enhance the status and capabilities of organizations responsible for disaster and safety, the government will redesign the organizational structure of local governments, which are at the forefront of disaster response.
On September 17, the Ministry of Personnel Management and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the "Measures to Strengthen Organizations and Personnel for Enhanced Accountability and Competence in Disaster and Safety Management." These measures are intended to actively improve the poor working conditions, such as frequent emergency duty and chronic staff shortages, that hinder the professionalism and continuity of work in disaster and safety sectors, which are directly linked to the lives and safety of the public.
Previously, on June 5, President Lee Jaemyung instructed that "support for outstanding local governments and public officials in disaster response will be expanded," emphasizing the need to provide rewards and promotion benefits to public officials who have made significant achievements in reducing disaster damage or preventing accidents.
The most notable change is the complete overhaul of the allowance system for disaster and safety sectors. A new monthly bonus of 50,000 won will be introduced for public officials in high-intensity positions and for those who have served for more than two years in disaster and safety roles. The aim is to give preferential treatment to public officials who handle particularly demanding tasks and those with long-term service in disaster and safety management.
The maximum daily emergency duty allowance will be raised from 8,000 won per day and 120,000 won per month to 16,000 won per day and 180,000 won per month. Local government disaster and safety managers will receive an additional 80,000 won per month in special duty expenses, increasing their monthly allowance from 80,000 won to a maximum of 240,000 won.
Promotion benefits for disaster and safety public officials will also be significantly strengthened to boost morale. For working-level public officials who have served more than two years in disaster and safety departments, the required period for seniority-based promotion will be reduced by two years for local governments and by one year for central government agencies. Public officials who have demonstrated outstanding job performance or received government awards in disaster and safety fields will be eligible for special promotion, even if there are no vacancies in higher positions.
The number of government awards in the disaster management sector will increase significantly from 99 to over 150. In addition, a new exemption provision will be established in the Proactive Administration Committee for disaster and safety public officials, so that if a public official takes proactive measures to protect public safety or the lives of citizens during an urgent disaster situation, the committee can grant exemption from disciplinary action in its post-incident judgment.
Measures will also be implemented to strengthen the organizational capabilities of disaster and safety agencies. To enhance the disaster management expertise of local government deputy heads and heads of disaster and safety departments, experienced personnel will be encouraged to take these positions, and a mandatory seven-hour group training course on disaster and safety will be introduced. The government will recommend that disaster and safety departments be designated as senior departments, and will propose organizational design models tailored to the circumstances of each local government to improve field operability and attract top talent to departments overseeing regional disaster and safety.
Staffing will be reinforced in city, county, and district situation rooms, which are at the frontline of disaster response, so that all local governments can operate a 24-hour disaster situation management system. The number of field personnel in local administrative welfare centers, which are closest to residents, will be increased to handle disaster management, and the proportion of disaster safety positions within local government disaster and safety departments will be gradually expanded.
The government plans to use these institutional improvements to enhance the responsiveness and expertise at disaster sites, attract and retain outstanding personnel, and establish a virtuous cycle that will enable the disaster management sector to grow sustainably in the long term.
Choi Dongseok, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, stated, "The disaster and safety sector is a core area of national crisis management that requires personnel with professionalism and continuity," adding, "Through these improvements, we will create working conditions that allow outstanding talent to find fulfillment and serve long-term in the disaster and safety field." Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojung said, "To smoothly fulfill the nation's most important duty of protecting the lives and safety of the people, those responsible for disaster and safety management must have both a sense of responsibility and pride in their work," adding, "We will continue to closely implement related measures in cooperation with relevant ministries and local governments."
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