South Korea Boosts Fire R&D Budget Following Itaewon Tragedy, Prioritizes Firefighter Health
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – South Korea is substantially increasing investment in fire research and development, allocating ₩50.3 billion (approximately $38.6 million USD) for the coming year – a 64.9% year-over-year increase. The move comes in the wake of the October 29,2022,crowd crush in Itaewon,Seoul,which highlighted critical needs for improved disaster response capabilities and firefighter safety.
The bolstered budget will focus on developing advanced equipment and technologies for use directly at disaster sites,including large-capacity battery fire response technology relevant to the growing prevalence of electric vehicles. Collaborating with the Ministry of Defence and the Defense Agency, the fire department aims to complete on-site due diligence for these technologies by August and begin full-scale commercialization in 2027. This investment also addresses a concerning trend: recent data indicates that 94% of firefighters experience some form of heart health issue.
Beyond equipment, the fire department plans to establish the ‘National Defense and Fire R&D Technology Council’ jointly with the National Defense Research institute and the National Fire Research Institute to foster collaborative research. A new ‘Technology Commercialization Research System’ will expedite the deployment of research breakthroughs to the field.
“We will keep the health and safety of firefighters dedicated to the field scientifically in readiness for the change in the upcoming disaster environment,” stated Heo Seok-gon,head of the fire department. The initiative underscores a commitment to proactively address evolving disaster risks and safeguard the well-being of first responders.
