Gangwon Fire Department to Invest 490 Billion Won This Year... Strengthening Disaster Response and Firefighter Welfare

Gangwon Fire Department Holds Major Work Briefing

On January 9, Gangwon Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) held the "2026 Gangwon Fire Department Major Work Briefing" in the main conference room on the second floor of the provincial government’s new building. The event was attended by over 100 people, including Governor Kim Jin-tae, the Fire Headquarters Chief, department heads, fire station chiefs, and the presidents of the male and female volunteer fire brigades.

A view of Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

At the briefing, Governor Kim Jin-tae remarked, "The very first step I took as governor was visiting the fire situation room at midnight," expressing his gratitude by saying, "Thanks to your efforts, we have been able to protect the daily lives of our residents without any major wildfires or disasters recently." He added, "The provincial government will continue to do its utmost to support all firefighters so that you can take pride in your work in the field."

Oh Seung-hoon, Chief of the Fire Headquarters, stated, "This year, for the first time in the country, we have raised the dispatch snack allowance to 6,000 won and are providing meal allowances to all centers. This has become a great source of strength and pride for the firefighters who are working hard in the field." He added, "I hope that this major work briefing will serve as a foundation for the further development of Gangwon’s fire services."

The provincial Fire Headquarters has set its vision as "Sophisticated Response! Resident Safety First," and plans to focus on four key tasks: data-driven proactive prevention, sophisticated field-oriented response, providing compassionate 119 services, and fostering a culture of communication and fairness within the organization. To this end, the headquarters will allocate a budget of 497.8 billion won, a 7.6% increase from last year.

First, in the area of data-driven proactive prevention, the province will establish an AI and big data analysis system, taking into account its large jurisdiction. By analyzing dispatch data, the system will predict disaster occurrence patterns in advance, ensuring a response system with no blind spots in safety.

In addition, to achieve sophisticated, field-oriented response, the province will expand the role of volunteer fire brigades closely connected to local communities and strengthen response capabilities through region-specific emergency rescue measures. Furthermore, by expanding cooperation with emergency medical institutions, the province plans to provide compassionate 119 services that residents can truly experience.

Alongside these efforts, the province will enhance psychological and welfare support so that firefighters can fully dedicate themselves to residents’ safety. A "one counselor per fire station" system will be implemented, with in-person counseling sessions provided through mobile counseling rooms. The province will also pursue agreements to offer psychological counseling for up to 10 years after retirement, placing a strong emphasis on supporting the mental health of firefighters.

For the first time in the country, the province plans to establish a Firefighter Mind and Body Recovery Center in Gangneung, with a total project cost of 40 billion won. This dedicated healing space will offer continuous mental health recovery and stress management programs for firefighters.