Jeong Mun-ho, Commissioner of the Fire Agency, "Strengthening Fire Monitoring Systems for Mixed-Use and High-Rise Buildings"

Public Safety Committee Audit Report ... Maintaining Timely Response System for COVID-19 Patient Transport and More

Fire Commissioner Jeong Mun-ho is attending the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee hearing on the 13th, reporting on the Fire Agency's affairs./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Jung Moon-ho, Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, announced plans to strengthen the fire monitoring system for buildings and facilities with a high risk of large-scale fires, such as mixed-use residential and commercial complexes.

On the morning of the 13th, during the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee’s National Fire Agency audit, Jung emphasized in his opening remarks and work report, "We will reinforce the fire monitoring system through special fire inspections, joint safety checks with related ministries, and institutional improvements for high-rise buildings like mixed-use complexes, traditional markets, construction sites, and logistics warehouses where large fires are a concern."

He added, "We will systematize a national-level all-out response system by strengthening large disaster response and managing personnel and equipment efficiently with a field-oriented approach."

In this regard, the National Fire Agency plans to operate special fire inspections to eliminate fire risk factors in national infrastructure and nursing hospitals, establish fire safety standards for construction sites, conduct joint inspections of large construction sites with related ministries, expand the distribution of residential fire safety equipment for vulnerable groups, and improve education for building safety managers.

The agency also intends to ensure thorough support for responding to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). By next year, it will establish the '119 Emergency Medical Service Field Response Smart System' to prevent infection among paramedics transporting patients, and prepare regional transport measures to maintain a timely response system in case of COVID-19 resurgence.

Commissioner Jung stated, "We will spare no effort in supporting firefighting capabilities so that citizens suffering from COVID-19 can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."

Additionally, regarding the nationalization of fire officers’ status, the National Fire Agency plans to systematically manage and operate central and local organizations by enacting the Fire Organization Act or amending the Fire Basic Act, thereby strengthening national responsibility in disaster response.

Furthermore, the central organization will be reorganized to enhance on-site support during national disasters such as large-scale disasters, infectious diseases, explosions, and chemical accidents at the metropolitan level. The agency will also expand personnel expenses support for national fire officers affiliated with cities and provinces and proceed without delay in recruiting 20,000 field personnel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.