The Fire Service in South Korea (or Korea Fire Service) is an organization to prevent danger, to protect the Republic of Korea people's lives and property, fire suppression and rescue, relief of emergency patients, prevention of disaster, disaster response, and providing recovery after a disaster occurs.National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (September 23, 2016). "Framework Act on Fire Services". National Legal Information Center. Ministry of Government Legislation. Retrieved September 25, 2016. Article 1 (Purpose): The purpose of this Act is to contribute to maintaining public peace and order and promoting social welfare by protecting the lives, bodies, and property of citizens through activities such as preventing, warning against, or suppressing fires, and conducting rescue and emergency medical operations in fires, disasters, calamities, and other emergency situations. Fire fighters in South Korea are Fire officers, members of an obligatory fire-fighting unit, and volunteer fire fighters.National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (September 23, 2016). "Framework Act on Fire Services". National Legal Information Center. Ministry of Government Legislation. Retrieved September 25, 2016. Article 2 (Definitions): ... 5. "Fire Brigade" means an organization composed of the following persons to extinguish fires and conduct rescue and emergency medical operations in fires, disasters, calamities, and other emergency situations: A. Firefighting civil servants under the Firefighting Civil Servants Act; B. Conscripted firefighters appointed under Article 3 of the Act on the Establishment of Conscripted Fire Brigades; C. Volunteer firefighters under the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Volunteer Fire Brigades. Regarding fire fighting activities, the Framework Act on Fire Service, rescue and emergency activities are regulated by Act of 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services. The national fire department is the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Safety and Security, and the local fire department is in charge of the city and circuit fire headquarters.National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (June 4, 2015). "Local Autonomy Act". National Legal Information Center. Ministry of Government Legislation. Retrieved September 25, 2016. Article 9 (Scope of Affairs of Local Governments): ... Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 6-B: Affairs concerning regional civil defense and local firefighting – Regional fire prevention, warning, suppression, investigation, rescue, and emergency medical services.

There are multiple criticisms such as the problem of the command system, the status of the firefighting organization, and the poor treatment of the firefighters, although a plurality of organizations are set up to carry out firefighting activities.

History Before the Goryeo period Fires in the Three Kingdoms of Korea were rather common. According to the Samguk sagi, fires occurred at the temple Hwangnyongsa in the 2nd, 6th, and 8th years of the reign of King Munmu. Furthermore, there are some records indicating that arson happened during this period as well.

Goryeo During the Goryeo period, a national-level firefighting system started to emerge. Whilst no specialized organization existed at the time, fires were still controlled and prevented via the 'Gold Coin System' (금화제도). This system worked on a basis of punishment and insurance. Any officials found guilty of arson (or otherwise causing a fire) faced immediate dismissal. If a fire destroyed company property, the perpetrator would be sentenced to three years of imprisonment. Victims of the fire would receive compensation if their house was destroyed by the fire or if they were injured by the fire. Local governments appointed one official to be in charge of these funds – initially with little oversight. However, following a fire during the 20th year of Munjong of Goryeo's reign, these officials were subject occasional inspections by the Royal Inspectorate to ensure that the funds had not been misused. If the appointed individuals could not be found or were otherwise neglecting their duty, they were liable to face imprisonment or further punishment. Whilst this successfully did prevent some fires, the Goryeo era still suffered more fires than previous eras, as a consequence of rapid urbanization (with booming urban populations living in larger, densely-packed, flammable buildings providing ample opportunities for fires to start and spread).

Joseon Dynasty

The firefighting system of the Joseon Dynasty was systematically organized under the Joseon Gyeonggukjeon. In 1426 (the 8th year of King Sejong's reign), the "Geumhwadogam" (Fire Prevention Bureau), the first specialized firefighting organization on the Korean Peninsula, was established under the Ministry of Military Affairs (Byeongjo) to manage arson and fire prevention."Annals of King Sejong, Volume 31, February 26, 5th article – Establishing the Geumhwadogam". February 26, 1426. Retrieved June 29, 2014. In June of the same year, it was given the concurrent duty of managing rivers."Annals of King Sejong, Volume 32, June 16, 5th article – Having the Geumhwadogam concurrently handle river management". June 16, 1426. Retrieved June 29, 2014. However, later that year, following arguments that "it is a waste to have multiple offices established when there are no constant matters to govern daily, which only causes grievances, so let us merge them," it was merged into the "Suseonggeumhwadogam" (Dike and Fire Prevention Bureau)"Annals of King Sejong, Volume 32, June 19, 2nd article – Merging the Seongmundogam and Geumhwadogam into the Suseonggeumhwadogam". June 19, 1426. Retrieved June 29, 2014. and placed under the Ministry of Public Works (Gongjo)."Annals of King Sejong, Volume 33, July 8, 5th article – Placing the merged bureau under the Ministry of Public Works". July 8, 1426. Retrieved June 29, 2014. In 1460 (the 6th year of King Sejo's reign), it was abolished by being integrated into the Hanseong-bu (Seoul Metropolitan Government),"Annals of King Sejo, Volume 20, May 22, 3rd article – The Ministry of Personnel reports officials to reduce and offices to abolish". May 22, 1460. Retrieved June 29, 2014. but was re-established as the "Suseonggeumhwasa" in 1481 (the 12th year of King Seongjong's reign) following the promulgation of the Gyeongguk daejeon ."Annals of King Seongjong, Volume 127, March 30, 2nd article – Inspector General Yun Ho reports on a fire in civilian houses". March 30, 1481. Retrieved June 29, 2014.

In the early days, the "Geumhwagun" (Fire Fighting Army) suppressed fires. During King Sejo's reign, the Geumhwagun was renamed "Myeolhwagun" (Fire Extinguishing Army) and put on a 24-hour standby."Encyclopedia of Korean Culture – Firefighting". Retrieved June 29, 2014."Doopedia – Suseonggeumhwasa". Retrieved June 29, 2014. However, after the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea), the Suseonggeumhwasa was also abolished, and the Ministry of Military Affairs and Hanseong-bu handled fire prevention tasks as needed. In July 1894 (the 31st year of King Gojong's reign), with the finalization of the Gyeongmucheong (Police Bureau) regulations, the Gyeongmucheong was tasked with handling matters related to fires.Choi Go (November 9, 2012). "<50th Anniversary of 119 Day Special> Looking Back at the History of Firefighting on the 50th Anniversary of Firefighters' Day". Fire Prevention News. Retrieved March 21, 2014."Annals of King Gojong, Volume 33, April 29 – Promulgating the Gyeongmucheong regulations, Article 12, Paragraph 10". April 29, 1895. Retrieved June 29, 2014.

Korea under Japanese rule Fire department in the Japanese emperor's fortune occupation is responsible for the Department of Protection or Security Department of the Governor-General of Korea. In the 1910s, firefighters were placed at the police office in Seoul and other major cities. They organized firefighting groups and arranged firefighters.In 1922, the Gyeongseong firefighting group was rebuilt by the Gyeongseong fire house, and in 1925, the first fire station of the Gyeongseong fire station rewrote.

United States Army Military Government in Korea and Republic of Korea National Fire Service In 1950 the National Fire Department of the Security Bureau was established, but in the same year it was reduced to being a directorate of the security department, and in 1955 the safety and protection department in charge of the fire department was in charge of the security department together with the guard department guard. The fire department was installed again in 1961 and was in charge of fire fighting work in the fire department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Department of the Internal Affairs Department until 1971. In 1975 the civil defense fund law came into force and the Ministry became responsible for civil defense affairs, in which the NFD was partly responsible.

Since then, the National Emergency Management Agency was established in 2004 after the fire accident of the Daegu subway and the typhoon,Lim Soo-geun (June 1, 2004). "Creating a 'Safe Korea'". YTN. Retrieved July 15, 2014. but was dismantled by the Sinking of MV Sewol in 2014 and was transferred to the Ministry of Public Safety and Security. In 2017, on the basis of the Central Fire Service,Baek So-yong (May 29, 2014). "'Subordinated to Administrative Officers Again?' National Emergency Management Agency Seething". Segye Ilbo. Retrieved February 1, 2016. the National Fire Agency was established as the country's singular firefighting service.

Local Fire Service In 1945, the fire department was established in the local government police department during the US military rule. In 1946, the Fire Fire Defense Committee and the municipal fire department were established, the Fire Department was established in 1947 and it was autonomous under the Ministry of Commerce, but in 1948 belonged to the state police administration regime. The fire department was established in Seoul and Busan in 1972, and in 1975, it was responsible for firefighting affairs in the fire department of the Civil affairs administration of each circuit. Since 1976 the mayor and county guard were in charge of firefighting work only in areas where fire stations were not established, but in 1992 the circuit Fire headquarters was established and reached the present.

Fire service structure

The firefighting organization of the Republic of Korea consists of the National Fire Agency under the Ministry of Interior and Security and the city or circuit firefighting headquarters. Under the NFA's administrative supervision there are National 119 Rescue Headquarters and a National Fire Service Academy, and under the city or circuit Firefight Headquarters there are fire stations and local fire academies. The NFA is responsible to the central government, while the city or county fire headquarters is managed by the local government respectively.

Central Fire Service National Fire Agency

Local Fire Service City Fire Service Seoul Fire Services

Provincial Fire Service

Firefighting Authorities

National Fire Agency

The National Fire Agency is an organization separated from the Central Fire Headquarters of the Ministry of Public Safety and Security on July 26, 2017, and is responsible for firefighting operations at the national level.

Fire department In principle, these departments are established by each metropolitan local government and serve as the upper organizations for front-line fire stations. Originally, they could not be established in basic local governments; however, as an exception, the Changwon Fire Headquarters was established under a special act.

Fire academy This includes the Central Fire Academy and various local fire academies, aiming to promote the education and training of firefighting civil servants, as well as the research and advancement of firefighting operations.

Fire station