President Lee Jae Myung pledged Monday to secure stable funding for fire services and strengthen firefighter safety amid growing calls for reform following a series of deaths in the line of duty.
In a speech marking the 64th Firefighters' Day, Lee highlighted the significance of 119, the country's emergency number for fire, rescue and ambulance services, as a symbol of public trust.
"Those three digits embody the faith and hope that someone will surely come to our rescue when we are in danger," Lee said at Sejong Culture and Arts Center in the administrative city of Sejong.
Lee urged firefighters to remember, "The safety of our people cannot be guaranteed unless firefighters themselves are safe."
"Just as the firefighters of the Republic of Korea protect our people day and night, the government of the Republic of Korea will become the 119 for our firefighters and make sure to protect you," he added, referring to South Korea by its official name.
Lee pledged to increase firefighting personnel and strengthen command systems to improve responses to increasingly complex disasters.
"We will do our best to ensure that everyone receives equal and comprehensive fire protection, regardless of where they live," he said. "To this end, we will secure stable funding for firefighting services and further expand investment in public safety."
The president also vowed to introduce advanced technologies to protect firefighters.
"We will build an advanced, science-based firefighting system in which artificial intelligence predicts risks at emergency scenes and robots and drones enter dangerous areas first," he said.
Lee also promised better working conditions and medical care, including support for the newly opened National Fire Hospital and a planned wellness center for firefighters' physical and mental health.
The remarks came a day after the presidential office, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea agreed at a meeting Sunday to consider providing about 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) for essential firefighting investments to ease the burden on local governments.
At the meeting, the three sides also agreed to seek additional funding for equipment, training facilities and specialized medical services during the National Assembly's deliberations on next year's budget.
The discussions followed growing controversy over remarks by Gyeonggi Gov. Choo Mi-ae, who described firefighting services as a financial drain on provincial finances during a National Assembly audit last month.
The controversy intensified after firefighter Kim Jin-seok died battling a factory fire in Bucheon, west of Seoul, in mid-October. Choo subsequently apologized.
Although firefighters became national civil servants in 2020, local governments still shoulder about 90 percent of firefighting costs, prompting calls for greater central government support.
The ceremony, held under the slogan "The Republic of Korea's Firefighters: Everyday Heroes Who Save Lives and Protect the World," drew some 800 attendees, including the interior minister, lawmakers, firefighters, volunteers and bereaved families.
Lee paid tribute to fallen firefighters and offered condolences to their families and colleagues. Three children of firefighter Park Seung-won, who died battling a fire in Wando, South Jeolla Province, in April, attended the ceremony.
"Your father was a proud firefighter of the Republic of Korea who fulfilled his duty to the very end to save precious lives and protect a world where everyone can live safely," Lee told the children. Park's wife was seen sobbing as Lee delivered the message.
"I promise that the government will take good care of the families and children left behind so that no one has to bear alone the burden of dedication and sacrifice for the nation and its people," he said.
Lee praised firefighters' efforts over the past year, saying improved emergency responses helped reduce fire-related deaths by 15.7 percent. Lee also highlighted the absence of wildfire-related deaths this spring, thanking firefighters for responding wherever help was needed, regardless of regional boundaries.
Wrapping up his speech, Lee reiterated that firefighters' own safety must come first.
"Please never forget that your mission is complete only when you return safely to your families and colleagues who are eagerly waiting for you," Lee said.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com
