Six Years After Nationalization, Local Governments Still Foot Most of the Fire Service Bill

Six years after firefighters became national government employees in 2020, central government spending accounted for only around 10 percent of last year's total fire service budget of about 8.1 trillion won. The nationalization was intended to narrow regional gaps in fire services, yet critics point out that the financial burden still rests with local governments. The Fire Safety Grant, the main funding source for the fire budget, is based on tobacco tax revenue and is shrinking in size.

Equipment conditions are also dire. As of January this year, 61.6 percent of the auxiliary masks used by firefighters nationwide had passed their expiration dates, and roughly half of breathing apparatus facepieces and fire-resistant suits were also overdue. Acquiring advanced equipment is no easy task, either. Kwon Young-gak, head of the fire service division of the Korean Government Employees' Union, said, "In reality, advanced equipment is essential for suppressing fires and rescuing lives on the ground," adding, "Purchases and development are simply not happening due to budget shortfalls."

Standards for uniforms, outsourced training, health checkups and other benefits also vary by region. Gong Ha-sung, a professor of fire and disaster prevention at Woosuk University, said, "The nation needs to take charge of budgets as well as command structures to provide equal safety services to all citizens."