The government and Democratic Party agreed to consider about US$1.4 billion (2 trillion won) ($1.5 billion) for urgent firefighting investment as local governments bear most costs.
South Korea's central government and ruling Democratic Party agreed on Sunday to consider about US$1.4 billion (2 trillion won) ($1.5 billion) in financial support for urgent, essential firefighting investments, The Korea Herald reported. The party announced the plan after a high-level meeting of the party, government and presidential office at the prime minister's official residence in Seoul.
Local governments cover roughly 90 percent of firefighting costs, although firefighters became national civil servants in 2020. Central government funding accounts for around 10 percent of the firefighting budget, according to the report. The government has yet to determine how the US$1.4 billion (2 trillion won) would be financed or allocated.
Democratic Party senior spokesperson Rep. Park Sung-joon said the government would also seek additional funding for firefighting equipment, training facilities and specialized medical services during National Assembly deliberations on the 2027 budget. He described the proposed package as "US$1.4 billion (2 trillion won) plus alpha and beta," referring to the emergency financial support, additional spending on equipment and facilities, and the potential redirection of tobacco-related tax revenue to firefighting.
Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun said the government would consult the National Assembly on additional firefighting spending and the possible use of the Future Response Fund. He also pledged to reactivate the government's fiscal decentralization task force and discuss the possible use of tobacco-related local education tax revenue.
