What did Park Hong-geun say the government would do about firefighter funding?

Park said the funding issue needed careful examination and that the government had not yet held detailed internal discussions on how to improve the situation. He said the review should involve the presidential office, the interior ministry, the fire agency and regional governments.

Why has firefighter funding become a concern for regional governments in South Korea?

The concern is that firefighting services have become a burden on local government finances even though firefighters have been classified as central government employees since 2020. Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae’s description of firefighters as a fiscal drain brought public attention to the issue.

How will South Korea’s proposed Future Fund be managed, and what safeguards did Park Hong-geun mention?

Park said the fund would be managed in accordance with the law and would respond to changes in the industrial environment amid the AI boom. Because it uses taxpayers’ money, he said its design needs to ensure both profitability and stability, with details developed through a comprehensive approach.

Budget minister vows to review vulnerabilities in funding for firefighters

Listen

Summary

Budget Minister Park Hong-geun said Wednesday in Sejong that he would examine potential weaknesses in funding for firefighters, whose costs have raised concerns for regional governments. He said the issue requires discussions with the presidential office, the interior ministry, the fire agency and regional governments. Park also defended the proposed Future Fund, saying it would be managed under the law and designed to balance profitability and stability.

Key Facts

Firefighters have been classified as central government employees since 2020, while concerns persist that firefighting services burden local government finances.
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae recently called firefighters a fiscal drain, prompting public backlash and renewed attention to the funding system.
The Future Fund is scheduled to launch next year using windfall tax revenue from the semiconductor boom.
Park said detailed internal discussions on improving firefighter funding had not yet taken place.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 21, 2026 3:57 pm KST

Budget Minister Park Hong-geun attends a meeting at the Government Complex Sejong, Oct. 14. Yonhap

SEJONG — Korea's budget minister on Wednesday vowed to look into potential vulnerabilities in the country's funding for firefighters, amid concerns that they have become a financial burden for regional governments.

"I agree that the issue needs to be carefully examined," Budget Minister Park Hong-geun said during a meeting with reporters in the central city of Sejong.

"We have not yet held detailed internal discussions on how the situation should be improved," Park said. "We need to look into the issue with the presidential office, the interior ministry, the fire agency and regional governments."

His remarks came after Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae recently described firefighters as a "fiscal drain," triggering public backlash while drawing attention to underlying issues in the funding system.

Choo's remarks were based on concerns that firefighting services have become a burden on local government finances, despite firefighters being classified as central government employees since 2020.

"It is the responsibility of the state to create an environment where those who sacrifice and dedicate themselves to the nation and its people can carry out their duties more safely," Park added.

Touching on concerns over the proposed Future Fund, set to be launched next year with windfall tax revenue from the semiconductor boom, Park said he does not believe the fund will become "pocket money" for the government, as criticized by the opposition bloc.

The budget minister added that Korea needs to respond promptly to the changing industrial environment amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, noting that the fund will be managed in accordance with the law.

"Since it is made with taxpayers' money, it needs to guarantee both profitability and stability," Park said. "We will take a comprehensive approach to designing the details."

Explore More