Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters delegated by the Framework Act on Health, Safety and Welfare of Firefighting Officials and those necessary for the enforcement thereof.
Article 2(Procedures for formulating master plans for health, safety and welfare of firefighting officials) #
(1) The Administrator of the National Fire Agency shall formulate a master plan for health, safety and welfare of firefighting officials (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") under Article 7(1) of the Framework Act on Health, Safety and Welfare of Firefighting Officials (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") no later than June 30 of the year preceding the year in which the relevant master plan takes effect, have consultations with the heads of relevant central administrative agencies thereon, and obtain approval from the President by November 30 of the same year. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) The Administrator of the National Fire Agency shall formulate an annual plan for health, safety and welfare of firefighting officials under Article 7(3) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "annual plan") no later than December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the relevant annual plan commences. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(3) When the Administrator of the National Fire Agency formulates a master plan or an annual plan under paragraph (1) or (2), he or she shall, without delay, notify the head of each relevant central administrative agency, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, and each Metropolitan City Mayor, Special Self-Governing City Mayor, Do Governor, or Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor") thereof. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 3(Survey on present condition of health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials) #
(1) The Administrator of the National Fire Agency shall conduct a survey on the present condition of health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials under Article 7(5) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "regular survey") no later than March 31 of the year preceding the year in which the relevant master plan takes effect. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) A regular survey shall include the following:
1. Matters relating to the risk factors causing detrimental health effects to firefighting officials and causes of accidents during fire-fighting activities;
2. Matters relating to the current status of designation and operation of medical centers specialized in fire service under Article 10 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "medical centers specialized in fire service");
3. Matters relating to the treatment of firefighting officials, analysis of risk factors, and research on occupational diseases of firefighting officials, conducted by medical centers specialized in fire service;
4. Matters relating to the working conditions of firefighting officials, including monitoring the environment for fire-fighting activities under Article 15 of the Act;
5. Matters relating to the health and safety compliance at fire-fighting scenes;
6. Matters relating to the installation and use of welfare facilities and physical exercise facilities;
7. Other matters necessary to ensure health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials.
(3) The Administrator of the National Fire Agency may conduct surveys other than the regular survey, if changes in social conditions relating to the health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials require additional surveys. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 4(Formulation of execution plans for health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials) #
(1) A Mayor/Do Governor shall formulate an execution plan for health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials under Article 8(1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "execution plan") no later than January 31 each year and submit it to the Administrator of the National Fire Agency. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) An execution plan shall include the following: <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Matters relating to the detailed execution plans for achieving policy objectives for health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials;
2. Matters relating to budget support for improving health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials;
3. Matters relating to expansion of personnel and equipment for preventing accidents during fire-fighting activities, and education and training therefor;
4. Other matters determined by the Administrator of the National Fire Agency as necessary to implement a master plan or an execution plan.
Article 5(Membership of Policy Council for Health, Safety, and Welfare of Firefighting Officials) #
(1) Not more than 3 members under Article 9(3)1 of the Act shall be commissioned for each field of health, safety, and welfare, taking gender into consideration. <Amended on Mar. 24, 2026>
(2) Relevant central administrative agencies under Article 9(3)2 of the Act shall be the following central administrative agencies: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017; Dec. 30, 2025; Mar. 24, 2026>
1. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety;
2. The Ministry of Health and Welfare;
3. The Ministry of Planning and Budget;
4. Other central administrative agencies deemed by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency to be related to the health, safety, and welfare of firefighting officials.
(3) Each member commissioned under paragraph (1) shall hold office for a term of 2 years and may be recommissioned only once. <Amended on Mar. 24, 2026>
Article 6(Operation of Policy Council for Health, Safety and Welfare of Firefighting Officials) #
(1) The chairperson of the Policy Council for Health, Safety and Welfare of Firefighting Officials under Article 9(1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") shall convene meetings of the Council and preside over them. <Amended on Mar. 24, 2026>
(2) When the chairperson of the Council (hereinafter referred to as the "chairperson") is unable to perform his or her duties due to an unavoidable reason, the Council member designated in advance by the chairperson shall act on his or her behalf. <Amended on Mar. 24, 2026>
(3) A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum, and any decision thereof shall require a concurring vote of at least a majority of those present.
(4) The Council may require the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, research institutes, organizations, etc. to submit data or opinions, and have relevant public officials or experts attend its meeting to present opinions, if necessary to conduct its business.
(5) If the Council deliberates on any matter under the subparagraphs of Article 9(7) of the Act, it shall seek opinions from firefighting officials in any of the following ways: <Added on Jul. 17, 2017; Mar. 10, 2020; Mar. 24, 2026>
1. Requiring the following firefighting officials to present written opinions:
a. Firefighting officials at the rank of fire captain or lower who belong to the National Fire Agency;
b. Firefighting officials at the rank of fire captain or lower who belong to the Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, Special Self-Governing City, a Do, or a Self-Governing Province (hereinafter referred to as a "City/ Do");
2. Requiring the following firefighting officials to attend the meeting of the Council:
a. Firefighting officials representing those at the rank of fire captain or lower who belong to the National Fire Agency;
b. Firefighting officials representing those at the rank of fire captain or lower who belong to each City/Do.
(6) Allowances and travel expenses may be paid, within the budget, to members, relevant public officials, or experts who attend meetings of the Council; provided, allowances and travel expenses shall not be paid where a member who is a public official or a relevant public official attends a meeting directly in connection with his or her duties. <Added on Mar. 24, 2026>
(7) Matters necessary for the operation of the Council, other than those prescribed in paragraphs (1) through (6), shall be determined by the chairperson through a resolution of the Council. <Amended on Jul. 17, 2017; Mar. 24, 2026>
[Title Amended on Mar. 24, 2026]
Article 6-2(Composition and operation of subcommittees) #
(1) A Health Subcommittee, a Safety Subcommittee, and a Welfare Subcommittee shall be established under the Council in accordance with Article 9(6) of the Act.
(2) Each subcommittee shall be composed of not more than 9 members, including 1 chairperson, and the chairperson of each subcommittee shall be concurrently held by the chairperson of the Council.
(3) Members commissioned by field under Article 9(3)1 of the Act (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as "commissioned members") shall become members of the subcommittee for their respective field. In such cases, commissioned members shall not concurrently serve as members of another subcommittee.
(4) The executive secretary of each subcommittee shall be concurrently held by the executive secretary of the Council.
(5) Article 6(1) through (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the operation of subcommittees. In such cases, "Council" shall be construed as "subcommittee"; "chairperson" as "chairperson of a subcommittee"; and "member" as "member of a subcommittee".
[This Article Added on Mar. 24, 2026]
Article 7(Designation, operation of central medical center specialized in fire service) #
(1) The Administrator of the National Fire Agency shall designate the police hospital as a medical center specialized in fire service under Article 10(1) of the Act. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(2) The medical center specialized in fire service designated under paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as the "central medical center specialized in fire service") shall conduct the following affairs: <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Treatment of firefighting officials;
2. Analysis of factors causing health problems for firefighting officials due to a special working environment and research on their diseases;
3. Special health checkups for firefighting officials under Article 16 of the Act;
4. Other matters requested by the Administrator of the National Fire Agency or a Mayor/Do Governor in relation to the health management of firefighting officials.
(3) The expenses incurred in operating the central medical center specialized in fire service shall be borne by the State or a City/Do. <Amended on Jul. 17, 2017>
(4) Matters necessary for operating the central medical center specialized in fire service, including the commencement date for treatment of firefighting officials, shall be determined by the Administrator of the National Fire Agency, in consultation with the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 8(Designation, operation of local medical centers specialized in fire service) #
(1) "Medical institution specified by Presidential Decree" in Article 10(1) of the Act means either of the following:
1. A veterans hospital established under Article 7 of the Korea Veterans Health Service Act and any other national or public hospital;
2. A medical institution acknowledged to be proper for a medical center specialized in fire service by a Mayor/Do Governor, other than those specified in subparagraph 1.
(2) The Administrator of the National Fire Agency, in consultation with the Mayor/Do Governor and other relevant agencies, may designate and operate a medical institution specified in paragraph (1) as a medical center specialized in fire service under Article 10(1) of the Act. In such cases, a medical institution specified in paragraph (1)2 is allowed to be designated as a medical center specialized in fire service, only in cases where the relevant City/Do has no national or public hospital, or the relevant national or public hospital is not proper to be used for a medical center specialized in fire service. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
(3) A medical center specialized in fire service designated under paragraph (2) (hereinafter referred to as "local medical center specialized in fire service") shall conduct the following affairs: <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
1. Treatment of firefighting officials;
2. Special health checkups for firefighting officials under Article 16 of the Act;
3. Other matters requested by the Administrator of the National Fire Agency or a Mayor/Do Governor in relation to the health management of firefighting officials.
(4) The expenses incurred in operating local medical centers specialized in fire service shall be borne by the relevant City/Do; and matters necessary for operating local medical centers specialized in fire service shall be determined by the Administrator of the National Fire Agency, after seeking opinions from the Mayor/Do Governor and other relevant agencies. <Amended on Nov. 19, 2014; Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 9(Qualifications of managers responsible for management of health and safety) #
(1) The classification for managers responsible for the management of health and safety referred to in Article 10(4) of the Act shall be the health and safety chief officer, health and safety manager, and on-site health and safety manager, whose qualifications shall be as follows:
1. Health and safety chief officer: A deputy chief fire official responsible for the health and safety program in the fire service agency or station;
2. Health and safety manager: A fire official designated by the head of the fire service agency or station, from among firefighting officials assisting the health and safety chief officer in the fire service agency or station;
3. On-site health and safety manager: The highest ranking fire official responsible for the overall management of the fire-fighting activities of an incident.
(2) The health and safety chief officer shall perform the following duties:
1. Preparation of regulations on the management of health and safety of firefighting officials under Article 14 of the Act, and checking and evaluation of compliance therewith:
2. Creation, implementation and evaluation of educational programs relating to health and safety management;
3. Case study of accidents during fire service activities and establishment of measures for accident prevention reflecting regional characteristics;
4. Checking protective equipment;
5. Education and management of on-site health and safety managers;
6. Record-keeping and statistical data management relating to accidents during fire service activities;
7. Other duties relating to the prevention of accidents during fire service activities.
(3) A health and safety manager shall assist the health and safety chief officer in relation to the duties set forth in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2).
(4) An on-site health and safety manager shall perform the following duties:
1. Following directions made by the health and safety chief officer in relation to the management of health and safety at fire-fighting scenes:
2. Making sure that firefighting officials dispatched to a scene of fire service activities wear personal protective equipment and checking on their physical and mental conditions;
3. Other duties related to the management of health and safety at fire-fighting scenes.
Article 9-2(Organization and operation of central firefighting psychology support team) #
(1) The central firefighting psychological support team shall be established under the National Fire Agency pursuant to Article 10-2(1) of the Act to perform the following duties:
1. Research for improving mental and physical health of firefighting officials;
2. Formulation and implementation of policies for stabilizing and treating mental and physical health of firefighting officials;
3. Supportive projects and fund-raising for stabilizing and treating mental and physical health of firefighting officials;
4. Organization and operation of a consultative body for psychological support for fire officers;
5. Other duties deemed necessary by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency to improve mental and physical health of firefighting officials.
(2) The central firefighting psychological support team shall have one head, who shall be appointed by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency from among public officials belonging to the National Fire Agency.
(3) Members of the central firefighting psychological support team shall be appointed by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency from among public officials belonging to the National Fire Agency. In such cases, persons with extensive expertise and experience in stabilizing and treating mental and physical health shall be preferentially appointed.
(4) Where necessary to efficiently perform the duties referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), the head of the central fire psychological support team may seek advice from private experts with extensive expertise and experience in stabilizing and treating mental and physical health.
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), matters necessary for the organization and operation of the central firefighting psychological support team shall be prescribed by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency.
[This Article Added on Aug. 6, 2024]
Article 9-3(Organization and operation of city/do firefighting psychological support team) #
(1) Pursuant to Article 10-2(1) of the Act, a City/Do firefighting psychological support team shall be established in each City/Do firefighting headquarters (referring to the firefighting headquarters under Article 3(4) of the Framework Act on Firefighting Services; hereinafter the same shall apply) which performs the following duties:
1. Formulation and implementation of policies for stabilizing and treating mental and physical health of firefighting officials;
2. Supportive projects and fund-raising for stabilizing and treating mental and physical health of firefighting officials;
3. Organization and operation of a consultative body for psychological support for fire officers;
4. Other duties deemed necessary by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency to improve mental and physical health of firefighting officials.
(2) The City/Do firefighting psychological support team shall have one head, who shall be appointed by the Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency from among public officials belonging to the City/Do firefighting headquarters.
(3) Members of the City/Do firefighting psychological support team shall be appointed by the Mayor/Do Governor from among public officials belonging to the City/Do. In such cases, persons with extensive expertise and experience in stabilizing and treating mental and physical health shall be preferentially appointed.
(4) Where necessary to efficiently perform the duties referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), the head of the City/Do firefighting psychological support team may seek advice from private experts with extensive expertise and experience in stabilizing and treating mental and physical health.
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), matters necessary for the organization and operation of the City/Do firefighting psychological support team shall be prescribed by the Mayor/Do Governor.
[This Article Added on Aug. 6, 2024]
Article 10(Qualifications of medical doctors for fire service) #
(1) Medical doctors for fire service referred to in Article 11 of the Act shall have obtained a medical license from the Minister of Health and Welfare under Article 5 of the Medical Service Act.
(2) Medical doctors for fire service shall perform the following duties:
1. Visiting treatment and counseling service for firefighting officials on a regular or intermittent basis;
2. Operating occupational disease prevention programs for firefighting officials;
3. Monitoring the environment for fire-fighting activities, etc. under Article 15 of the Act;
4. Analyzing the results of special health checkups for firefighting officials under Article 16 of the Act;
5. Operating other health management, counseling, and mental health programs for firefighting officials.
(3) Medical doctors for fire service shall advise the head of Fire and Disaster Headquarters to take necessary measures for those who have been found to be in need of treatment of diseases or professional counseling as a result of operating any health management, counseling and mental health program for firefighting officials.
(4) Medical doctors for fire service shall be appointed as a public official in a fixed term position under the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials or a local public official in a fixed term position under the Decree on the Appointment of Local Public Officials. <Amended on Nov. 20, 2013>
Article 11(Management and operation of welfare facilities) #
In accordance with Article 12(4) of the Act, the head of a fire agency or station shall designate a public official in charge of its welfare programs to be a manager responsible for the management of facilities for welfare and physical exercise under authority of the relevant agency or station.
Article 11-2(Timing, methods, and procedures for notification of sources of personal information collection) #
(1) The Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency shall notify the fire officer (including a person who was a fire officer; this shall apply hereinafter in this Article) of the matters under each subparagraph of that paragraph in writing, by e-mail, telephone, text message, or other means by which the fire officer can easily confirm the notification content within 6 months from the date of receipt of the personal information of the fire officer under the main clause of Article 17(4) of the Act.
(2) The Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency shall keep and manage the following matters until the relevant personal information is destroyed in accordance with Article 21 or Article 37(5) of the Personal Information Protection Act, if notification has been made in accordance with paragraph (1).
1. The fact notified to the relevant firefighting official;
2. Date when it is notified;
3. How notification is made.
[This Article Added on Jun. 25, 2025]
Article 12(Management of sensitive information and personally identifiable information) #
The Fire Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, the Mayor/Do Governor, the head of a fire service agency or station may manage data containing information on health under Article 23 of the Personal Information Protection Act or resident registration numbers under subparagraph 1 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act, where it is unavoidable to conduct the following affairs:
1. Affairs concerning the provision of support for medical treatment to firefighting officials who have sustained injuries or diseases from accidents during firefighting activities referred to in Article 3(4) of the Act;
2. Affairs concerning special health checkups or close health examinations on firefighting officials under Article 16 of the Act;
3. Affairs concerning epidemiological surveys on occupational diseases under Article 17 of the Act;
4. Affairs concerning limitations on fire services of persons diagnosed as patients under Article 18.
[This Article Added on Aug. 6, 2024]