Ten Jeonnam Firefighters with Severe Illnesses Approved for Work-Related Medical Care

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The efforts of the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters to obtain approval for work-related injury (death in the line of duty) for firefighters suffering because diseases occurring during firefighting duties were not recognized as work-related have achieved significant results.

According to the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Ma Jaeyoon) on the 4th, 28 employees have suffered mental and economic distress due to severe illnesses such as cancer over the past five years.

As a result of Jeonnam Fire's efforts to approve their work-related medical treatment, 10 out of 11 severe illness patients (leukemia, breast cancer, cerebral hemorrhage, heart disease, etc.) have received work-related injury approval. One case is still in progress.

In particular, an employee battling blood cancer (lymphocytic leukemia) was recognized for work-related medical treatment approval by the Ministry of Personnel Management's Disaster Compensation Review Committee on the 2nd, resulting in four employees currently suffering from the same disease since January this year receiving work-related medical treatment approval.

Due to the nature of firefighting duties, exposure to harmful substances during long-term field activities and cases of battling or dying from severe illnesses such as cancer are frequent; however, the burden of proving the causal relationship with work lies with the individual or their bereaved family, leading many to give up applying (or suing) due to mental and economic distress.

Accordingly, Jeonnam Fire plans to provide comprehensive support so that no employee suffers from severe illnesses by operating a legal support T/F team including lawyers, led by the Fire Administration Division Chief as the support team leader, separately from the existing support projects for proving firefighter death or work-related injury, starting this year.

Chief Ma Jaeyoon of the Fire Headquarters said, “We plan to provide continuous support to ensure that no cases of disapproval occur due to work-related diseases,” and added, “We will strive to ensure that employees can work with peace of mind.”

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