"Fire Prevention Month": National Fire Agency Joins Public to Prevent Fires

Participation by fire headquarters in 19 cities and provinces over one month

Three strategies and nine key initiatives to be pursued

Ahead of winter, the National Fire Agency is observing the 79th National Fire Prevention Month for one month, through November 30.

Yonhap News Agency

The event, held in partnership with fire headquarters in 19 cities and provinces nationwide, aims to encourage people to practice safety in their daily lives. The National Fire Agency is pursuing nine key initiatives under three main strategies: fostering a public consensus on fire prevention, promoting fire safety through the media, and holding fire prevention campaigns that encourage public participation.

Fire prevention banners and posters will be displayed, and fire safety videos shown at fire stations, schools, public buildings, and multi-use facilities. Safety awareness in everyday life will also be promoted through fire station telephone hold messages and announcements played at the agency when employees arrive and leave work.

From November 2 to 9, winning entries from the 2026 Fire Safety Slogan, Poster and Photography Contest will be exhibited in the lobbies of National Fire Agency buildings and at Osong Station. The exhibition will also feature submissions by children from five countries and students at international schools in Korea, as well as materials tracing how fire prevention events have changed over the years. An online exhibition will also be available on the National Fire Agency website.

Alongside promotional features on television and in newspapers, short-form videos and card news will be shared on social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. Everyday channels, including electronic billboards, bus information systems (BIS), and apartment elevator screens, will also be used.

Key messages will cover checking safety equipment at home, using electrical and heating appliances safely, installing standalone smoke alarms, and creating fire evacuation plans. Tailored prevention guidelines will also be shared for facilities serving older adults and people with disabilities, traditional markets, and multi-use facilities.

On November 2, a nationwide fire prevention campaign was held simultaneously across the country. Local fire stations, together with relevant organizations and volunteer fire brigades, shared safety guidelines at crowded locations such as train stations, bus terminals, and traditional markets. Other initiatives include regional children's poster contests, a “Safety Experience Fair” where participants can learn how to use fire extinguishers and perform CPR, and voluntary home safety checks using household safety checklists.

Online, the National Fire Agency is offering a “Fire Survival Self-Assessment” to test people's ability to respond to fires, along with O/X quizzes that provide guidance on what to do in different situations.

Song Ho-young, Director General of Fire Prevention at the National Fire Agency, said, “Fire prevention begins with small actions, such as checking for hazards at home and following safety guidelines. I urge everyone to actively help prevent fires in their daily lives by installing smoke alarms and making evacuation plans.”

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