The National Fire Agency will integrate and operate fire helicopters nationwide in the new year to complete a rapid dispatch system. It also laid out a blueprint to build a "next-generation 119 system" using artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, creating a virtuous cycle in which all data secured from reporting to dispatch, investigation, and analysis is fed back into prevention policy.
The National Fire Agency held a "2026 National Fire Agency key work briefing" for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at the Government Complex Sejong on the morning of the 8th.
Acting Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong of the National Fire Agency cited "meticulous, gap-free response" and "data-driven scientific prevention" as top priorities. Kim said the agency will work with the medical community and relevant institutions to resolve delays in transporting emergency patients, and will systematically manage the health of fire officials with the National Fire Service Hospital, which will officially open in the first half of this year, as the hub.
The National Fire Agency also set goals that include: ▲ comprehensive inspections of new high-risk facilities such as data centers and lithium battery sites ▲ deployment of advanced equipment to disaster scenes, including a dedicated team for unmanned firefighting robots and drones ▲ securing technological competitiveness to export firefighting industry products.
The five agencies under the National Fire Agency—including the Korea Fire Institute (KFI), the Korea Fire Safety Institute, the Korea Fire Officials Credit Union, the Fire Industry Mutual Aid Association, and the Korea Fire Facilities Association—also agreed to lend support so that firefighting policies can take root in the field.
Acting Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong of the National Fire Agency also held a briefing on the work report in the afternoon. Kim said, "This year, we will pursue living policies that work immediately in the field, embracing the values of life, solidarity, and devotion," adding, "We will pool the capabilities of the National Fire Agency and its affiliated organizations to the utmost to build a safe nation where people can live with peace of mind."