The National Fire Agency said on the 6th it selected a total of 30 outstanding merits across disaster scenes and administration as ad hoc special performance award recipients for 2026.
A total of 166 million won in rewards was paid to 69 firefighters who led the 30 exemplary cases. Based on Central Public Merit Review Committee evaluations, rewards ranged from 1 million won per case to as much as 10 million won.
Outstanding field response merits included: ▲ a case in which cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on a citizen who collapsed on the way to work, restoring spontaneous circulation ▲ a case in which an 8-ton (t) refrigerated box truck fire inside a tunnel was quickly extinguished while on a business trip ▲ a case in which a citizen attempting to jump from a building rooftop was spotted and rescued on a day off ▲ a case in which clues in a social media (SNS) profile photo were used to locate and rescue an unresponsive 119 caller. The National Fire Agency said it highly evaluated the dedication shown regardless of time and place.
Outstanding policy outcomes included: ▲ a case in which an emergency medical cooperation model was built with the military and medical institutions reflecting regional characteristics ▲ a case establishing a smart disaster command-and-control system using drones ▲ a case in which reflective sheets (stickers) identifying affiliation and vehicle name were attached to the tops of fire trucks to build an air-view-based control and management system ▲ a case operating an air ambulance model that overcame the geographic limits of island regions. The efforts were recognized for turning problems found in the field into policy improvements.
Choi Yong-cheol, commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, "We will continue to operate the awards system so that the efforts of firefighters who strive to protect the lives and safety of the public can be recognized fairly and in a timely manner."