Last year's dry weather led to more 119 fire dispatches, while frequent rains resulted in fewer reports of "beehive removal."
The National Fire Agency said on the 18th that it was found after analyzing 2025 fire, rescue, and emergency medical activity results.
There were 38,341 fires last year, up 1.9% (727 cases) from 2024. It was the only increase among overall firefighting activity indicators. The National Fire Agency attributed the rise to higher fire risk from dry climate conditions.
Fires killed 346 people and injured 2,390 last year, up 12.3% (38 people) and 14.1% (296 people), respectively, from 2024. Carelessness accounted for 17,155 cases, or 44.7% of all causes.
Rescue operations totaled 1,197,158 last year, down 9.2% (121,679 cases) from 2024. A large share of rescue dispatches typically involves "beehive removal," and the National Fire Agency said frequent rains in the fall (September–October) reduced bee activity, leading to fewer dispatches.
The heat wave also affected emergency transports. Emergency transports totaled 1,733,003 last year, down 3.2% (57,791 cases) from 2024, but transports of heat-related illness patients increased by 12% (336 people) in the same period.
Low birthrate and population aging also showed up in emergency statistics. Patients aged 60 and older transported last year numbered 1,021,423, accounting for 58.4% of all transports. In contrast, transports of children under 10 were 53,977, or about 3% of the total.
The National Fire Agency plans to strengthen firefighting policy in line with climate and social structural changes. Acting Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong of the National Fire Agency said, "We will establish a precise and scientific disaster response system based on data to protect the public's safety without gaps."