Im Kwanghyun: "Consider Using Future Response Fund and Tobacco Tax to Secure Firefighting Funds"

Chief of Staff Lim Kwanghyun attends high-level ruling party-government consultation on Nov. 8
"Fiscal decentralization task force to be fully activated... measures to secure firefighting funding"

Presidential Chief of Staff Im Kwang-hyun said on the 8th, "We will work closely with the National Assembly to review additional support for next year's firefighting budget to expand essential firefighting equipment and facilities, as well as ways to secure emergency funding, including using the Future Response Fund and allocating a portion of the tobacco consumption tax to local education tax."

At a high-level ruling party-government consultation meeting held that day at the prime minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Im said, "Firefighting is an essential public service directly linked to people's lives, and it is important to establish a stable financial foundation so that everyone can receive adequate protection, wherever they live."

Im Kwang-hyun, chief of staff to the president, speaks at a high-level ruling party-government consultation meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 8, 2026. Yonhap News

Im emphasized, "Even after firefighting officials were transferred to national civil service, firefighting responsibilities and the financial burden have remained with local governments, and financial difficulties in the firefighting sector have been raised, particularly in Gyeonggi Province." He added, "I strongly agree with the ruling party's proposal to swiftly advance discussions on fiscal decentralization to secure urgent firefighting funds and strengthen local government finances."

He pledged, "We will fully launch a fiscal decentralization task force (TF) within the government to improve the stability of firefighting funds and devise fundamental measures to expand local governments' fiscal capacity."

He also called for the ruling party's cooperation in passing next year's budget proposal. "The budget proposal for next year includes funding to address K-shaped polarization, comprehensive support for young people at each stage of their growth, and support for three major mega-projects," he said. "Neither the people's livelihoods nor opportunities to gain an edge for the future will wait for us. It is crucial that the budget proposal be passed by the statutory deadline."

He added, "The government will faithfully reflect the voices from the field and policy proposals conveyed by the ruling party, and will fully explain the necessity and expected effects of the projects to the public and the National Assembly." He continued, "We ask for the party's support to ensure the budget is passed on time."

Meanwhile, regarding plans to respond to natural disasters during the winter, Im said, "We must make thorough preparations for snow removal on commuter routes and the protection of vulnerable groups." He urged officials to "review the response system through to the end to reduce preventable deaths, as the president always emphasizes."

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