The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 14th that it will run, with the Korea Forest Service, a "special period for crackdowns and arrests of those responsible for wildfires" through May 15.
During this special crackdown and arrest period, the government plans to respond strictly under a zero-tolerance policy to anyone who causes a wildfire, regardless of intent or negligence.
Over the past three years through last year, most cases of fines for violating wildfire prevention rules were found to be caused by human error or carelessness. Of a total of 4,672 cases, illegal burning (62.5%) and unauthorized entry into restricted mountain areas (25.9%) were the most common, in that order.
However, among the 1,334 wildfires that occurred during the same period, the apprehension rate of those responsible was 32.9%. That is lower than for general arson cases (85.1%). There was also criticism that penalties were light, with only three cases resulting in prison sentences after trial.
In response, the government will deploy 1,252 special judicial police for forests nationwide during this special crackdown and arrest period. Authorities will focus on cracking down on illegal burning of agricultural waste and entry into restricted mountain areas, and will impose fines without exception for violations.
In addition to imposing fines, the government will also pursue civil liability claims against those responsible for causing wildfires. In the event of a large wildfire, it plans to use scientific investigative techniques, such as digital evidence analysis (forensics), to track and apprehend offenders to the end.
In addition, the penalty for the crime of causing a fire by negligence will be strengthened from the current maximum of three years to up to five years in prison. The government is also pushing legal amendments to raise the cap on fines for illegal burning from 2 million won to 3 million won, among other measures to toughen penalties.
Forest Service Commissioner Park Eun-sik said, "We will respond strictly under a zero-tolerance policy to strengthen a prevention-centered management system and swiftly establish the legal basis for tougher penalties."
Kim Gwang-yong, head of the Disaster Safety Management Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "The government will make every effort to prevent wildfires while pushing strong crackdowns and penalties for illegal acts," adding, "We ask the public to exercise special vigilance and actively join in preventing wildfires."