'Firefighting Day' Attendee Choo Mi-ae: "First Step Taken Toward National Responsibility for Firefighting Finances... I Won't Stop Here"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae said the province's efforts to expand the national government's responsibility for firefighting finances had produced meaningful results, adding, "I will continue working to change laws and systems so that the national government can take stable responsibility for firefighting finances."

At the ceremony marking the 64th Firefighting Day, held at the Gyeonggi Arts Center in Suwon on November 9, Governor Choo said, "Last weekend, a long-standing call to strengthen the national government's responsibility for firefighting finances took an important first step toward securing financial support."

She continued, "Gyeonggi Province's 119 emergency services receive more than 2 million reports each year, the most of any region in the country. Thanks to you, countless residents have been rescued and have made it through crises. On behalf of the people of Gyeonggi Province, I sincerely thank you," and wished them a happy Firefighting Day.

In particular, she stressed, "Your dedication must be met with the respect, treatment, and support it deserves. We must never leave you to bear every hardship on the strength of your sense of duty alone. The national government must be a firm pillar of support, providing sufficient personnel and equipment and a safe working environment. Six years have passed since firefighters became national civil servants, but a substantial portion of firefighting finances still falls to local governments. I believed this was an issue that had to be corrected."

She added, "Last weekend, those efforts finally produced meaningful results. The government and the ruling party began discussing specific measures to expand financial support for the firefighting sector. This achievement is especially significant because it can bring about practical changes that will enable you to work in better conditions."

Governor Choo said, "I will not stop here. I hope we can go beyond financial support and also change the laws and systems so that the national government can take stable responsibility for firefighting finances. I sincerely hope you can work more safely, receive greater respect, and carry out your duties with pride. I will listen more closely to your voices and bring about the changes needed, one by one."

On November 8, the government and the Democratic Party of Korea agreed at the 12th high-level government-party consultation, held at the prime minister's residence, to consider providing around KRW 2 trillion in financial support for essential investments in the firefighting sector. The support would cover firefighting equipment, training facilities, and the expansion of a specialized medical system for firefighters. The government and the ruling party will review ways to secure funding, including using the Future Response Fund, and plan to finalize the amount during National Assembly deliberations on the 2027 budget proposal.

On August 8, three days after announcing Gyeonggi Province's Declaration of a Fiscal Emergency on August 5, Governor Choo raised the issue on social media, saying the system under which Gyeonggi Province pays more than KRW 1 trillion in salaries for firefighters, who are national civil servants, must be reformed.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae speaks at a ceremony marking the 64th Firefighting Day at the Gyeonggi Arts Center on the 9th. Photo courtesy of Gyeonggi Province.

Governor Choo has since continued to call for stronger national responsibility for firefighting finances, including during the National Assembly's audit of Gyeonggi Province and at National Assembly forums.

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters held the ceremony and a 119 safety experience event featuring public participation that day under the theme "By the Residents' Side, Always 119," with around 1,000 people, including members of the firefighting community, in attendance.

The ceremony included awards recognizing contributions to the development of firefighting services and celebratory performances. Visitors could take part in 17 types of safety experience activities in the outdoor plaza. Cindy, the "CPR dog" who drew attention for CPR training, also met with residents to make emergency first aid for saving lives more approachable.

Cindy is a pet dog raised by Fire Lieutenant Shin Dong-gyun of the 119 Comprehensive Situation Room at the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters. Cindy became well known after an educational video demonstrating CPR, in which she presses a person's chest with her front paws, garnered more than 1.8 million views.

A variety of other activities were also offered, including meeting 119 rescue dogs that work at actual disaster sites, virtual reality (VR) experiences featuring firefighting helicopters and fire engines, fire extinguisher use, and escaping a smoke maze.

At Governor Choo's direction, Gyeonggi Province is currently operating a task force to develop comprehensive measures to ensure safety at firefighting sites and improve firefighters' working conditions and treatment. The province plans to prepare the measures by December 10.

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