Korean Firefighting Technology to Improve to 90% Level of Advanced Countries by 2025

Funding and Technology Development Support for Outstanding Firefighting Companies

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The National Fire Agency plans to raise the technological level of the fire industry, currently at about 76% of advanced countries, to 90% by 2025 and strengthen support for overseas exports by domestic fire companies.

According to the National Fire Agency on the 3rd, as of 2019, there are 9,507 domestic fire industry companies employing about 175,000 people, with total sales amounting to approximately 16.9 trillion KRW. Among them, fire facility construction businesses account for 5,851 companies, or 61.5% of the total, followed by manufacturing at 7.1%, design at 8.0%, management at 3.4%, supervision at 5.1%, fireproofing at 8.6%, and wholesale and retail at 6.3%.

Exports of domestically produced fire products amounted to 274 billion KRW from January to October last year, a 3.5% decrease compared to 284.1 billion KRW during the same period the previous year. By export item, mechanical devices such as sprinkler heads and expansion pipes accounted for the largest share at 69.8%, followed by fire extinguishing devices at 18.2%, fire trucks at 6.6%, alarm devices at 3.1%, and fireproof and refractory products at 2.3%. By region, exports to Asia accounted for 70.7%, followed by the EU at 9.2%, North America at 8.3%, the Middle East at 6.9%, and Latin America at 2.4%.

The National Fire Agency plans to focus on four policy areas to increase exports by raising the current technological level, which is about 76% of advanced countries, to 90% by 2025.

First, to improve the quality of fire products, performance certification standards will be strengthened for 62 items recognized by KFI (Korea Fire Industry Technology Institute) without legal grounds, including portable emergency lights and gas fire extinguishing system overpressure outlets. A registration system for fire equipment sales businesses will be introduced to ensure that professional companies with delivery capabilities can win bids. Additionally, through the Fire Industry Fund, a total of 18.5 billion KRW will be provided to small and strong companies and those related to the Green New Deal, while supporting the localization of manufacturing facilities and parts, as well as the acquisition of overseas certifications for new technologies and products.

Fifteen companies developing fire products and facilities applying advanced technologies linked to the 4th Industrial Revolution will receive a total of 1 billion KRW in support by 2023 to accelerate commercialization. To improve the fact that 98.4% of domestic fire industry companies currently rely solely on the domestic market, a team for pioneering overseas markets will be operated, and plans are in place to directly invite purchasing delegations from Thailand and Malaysia.

A National Fire Agency official said, "Since export opportunities can be opened only by competing with products that meet global fire market trends, we will strengthen policies that combine technology development and marketing support."

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