[단독] 3년 넘은 방화복 교체 필요한데…소방예산 증가분 98% 인건비

The HankyorehIndependentProgressive

Since the conversion of fire service personnel to national civil servants five years ago, South Korea's fire budget has increased by nearly 2 trillion won, but most of this increase has gone toward personnel costs rather than improving safety equipment or infrastructure. According to data from the Fire Department collected on the 20th, the total fire budget across all local governments rose from 6.6893 trillion won in 2021 to 8.5967 trillion won in 2026, an increase of 1.9074 trillion won (28.5%). Of this increase, 98% (1.8664 trillion won) was allocated to personnel expenses such as salaries, allowances, and fixed meal costs, linked to the recruitment of approximately 20,000 additional firefighters between 2017 and 2022. Meanwhile, non-personnel expenditures, intended for equipment upgrades, facility improvements, health checkups, and training, increased by only 409 billion won during the same period. Despite the rise in staffing, investments aimed at reducing risks and burdens on frontline workers remain insufficient. In 2026, only 10.7% of the overall fire budget is covered by the national government, leaving local governments responsible for the rest, which leads to disparities in

Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights a significant imbalance in the allocation of increased fire department budgets, emphasizing that the majority went toward personnel costs rather than critical safety improvements. It critiques the lack of investment in equipment upgrades and risk reduction measures despite the

The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter7 hr. ago

Six years after firefighters were designated as national civil servants in South Korea, local governments continue to bear nearly 90% of the financial burden for fire service operations. According to data from Gyeonggi Province, local governments cover 89.3% of the overall fire service budget, while the central government contributes 10.7%. This disparity is particularly evident in personnel costs, where the central government funds only 8.4% of firefighters' salaries through fire safety subsidies. Despite the national civil servant designation, local governments retain primary responsibility for organizing fire services, managing personnel, and administering budgets, as outlined in the Local Autonomy Act. A 2025 analysis by the Korean Association for Policy Studies indicated that 66% of firefighting duties fall under national responsibility, yet central funding remains significantly lower than expected.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data on the distribution of firefighting funding between local and central governments without overtly favoring either side. It highlights the discrepancy between the national civil servant status of firefighters and their continued reliance on local funding, but does so