Moon Visits Fire Station to Encourage Crew Members: "Relieved Promise to Increase 20,000 Personnel Kept" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 6th, President Moon Jae-in visited the Yongin Fire Station in Gyeonggi Province to encourage firefighters who were busy transporting patients in emergency situations amid the heatwave, stating, "I am relieved that we can keep the promise of increasing the number of firefighting personnel by 20,000 and establishing a National Fire Hospital."

The Yongin Fire Station recorded the highest number of emergency activities for heat-related illnesses among fire stations in the metropolitan area during the two months from May to July.

President Moon said, "Thanks to the hard work of the firefighters, many heat-related patients were transported very quickly and received necessary treatment," and encouraged them by saying, "They are playing a very important role in protecting the safety and lives of the people from heatwave damage by dispatching to vulnerable areas such as slums, highlands, and livestock farms to supply water for cooling and daily use."

Emphasizing the role of firefighters in responding to COVID-19, he praised, "From quarantine and airport quarantine support to support for disinfection activities, rapid transportation of confirmed or suspected patients, and quickly transporting those who experience adverse reactions after vaccination, you have worked hard."

In particular, regarding COVID-19 response, President Moon expressed gratitude for the Fire Agency’s support in providing recovery support vehicles as shelters for disinfection personnel. He said, "(The recovery support vehicles) provided great comfort and then inspiration to the disinfection teams struggling in the extreme heat," adding, "It was a truly creative measure, and as the Fire Agency took a leading role, the police also provided riot squad buses, and various local governments provided different cooling vehicles."

President Moon said, "Even though it is difficult until the end, I hope you do your best for the health and safety of the people, and at the same time, I hope our firefighters also protect their own safety a lot," and urged, "When a heatwave advisory is issued, outdoor training or education should be prohibited and replaced entirely with indoor education and training, and sufficient rest time should be provided. Please make efforts accordingly."

President Moon stated, "Since the nationalization of firefighting personnel, the government has been making many efforts to improve the working conditions and treatment of our firefighters, but there are still many shortcomings and insufficiencies," and pledged to do his best to support them.

The firefighters expressed gratitude to President Moon for the increase in firefighting personnel and the nationalization. Paramedic Oh Yoon-ok (Fire Sergeant) said to President Moon during his visit to the fire station, "Thanks to the promised increase in personnel, the number of our ambulance team members has increased from two to three, allowing us to provide better service," and added, "Thanks to you, Mr. President, I am happily working in the best environment during my 25 years of service."

Paramedic Son Ae-rim (Fire Sergeant) also said, "Since firefighting personnel were converted to national status last year, our pride has greatly increased," and requested President Moon to attend and encourage the Firefighters’ Day event this year.

After taking a commemorative photo with the firefighters, President Moon received an explanation from Fire Commissioner Shin Yeol-woo about the current population per firefighter ratio, and then instructed Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Lee Jin-sik, saying, "The national average population per firefighter is 900, but Yongin Fire Station has about 2,000. I heard that a new fire station is being planned in Yongin City, so please check with the relevant ministries to ensure smooth progress."

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