Entire 100 Million Won Budget for Fallen Firefighters' Memorial Event Cut in Full

Event sharply scaled back amid Gyeonggi Province's financial difficulties... Choo Mi-ae: "Improve working conditions and recognition"

Gyeonggi Province held this year's memorial ceremony for firefighters who died in the line of duty on a much smaller scale than last year's after cutting the entire 100 million won budget for the event, citing financial difficulties. Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae attended and pledged to strengthen safety measures and improve working conditions for firefighters.

Yonhap News Agency

According to Gyeonggi Province, about 60 people, including 14 family members of firefighters who died in the line of duty, Governor Choo and fire service officials, attended the second Gyeonggi Fire Service 119 Memorial Day at the auditorium of the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters in Suwon on October 24.

After watching a video commemorating the firefighters who died in the line of duty, attendees paid their respects at Haetae Park on the headquarters grounds with floral tributes, incense and a moment of silence.

In her memorial remarks, Governor Choo stressed the need to strengthen safety measures for firefighters, saying, "The lives firefighters are responsible for protecting must include their own."

She added that not only those being rescued but also the firefighters carrying out the rescue must be able to return safely to their families. She said that the views of frontline personnel would be reflected in safety measures and that their working conditions and recognition would be improved.

This year's memorial ceremony was significantly smaller than last year's. The first ceremony, held on October 19, 2025, received 100 million won in provincial funding and drew about 5,500 people, including family members of firefighters who died in the line of duty, firefighters and local residents.

At the time, a range of programs were held over seven hours, including an exhibition of portraits depicting the lives and stories of 13 firefighters who died in the line of duty, a memorial walk, a children's drawing contest, and hands-on activities featuring first-aid and firefighting equipment.

However, Gyeonggi Province cut the entire 100 million won event budget while drawing up a supplementary budget with spending reductions to address its fiscal crisis.

As a result, the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters held the event using about 7.5 million won from its own general administrative budget. Memorial and hands-on programs for local residents were dropped, and the event was shortened to two hours.

The firefighters' union expressed regret over the scaled-back ceremony. Jeong Yong-woo, chair of the Mirae Firefighters United Labor Union, stressed that events honoring the families of firefighters who died in the line of duty and commemorating the sacrifices of their colleagues should be expanded.

He also said such memorial events boost serving firefighters' pride and motivate them to carry out their duties even in dangerous situations.

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