The Korea Forest Service announced on March 16 that it will establish and operate a "Wildfire Prevention Drone Team" within the soon-to-be-launched Korea Forest Disaster Safety Technology Corporation in preparation for the spring major wildfire special response period (March 14 to April 19).
The Forest Service has proactively organized the Wildfire Prevention Drone Team with 10 teams comprising 20 personnel even before the corporation's official establishment. The agency plans to consolidate drone operation experience and technical capabilities accumulated by institutions being integrated into the corporation to effectively respond to increasingly large-scale wildfires.
The team will utilize thermal imaging drones to rapidly identify fire line locations and analyze wildfire spread patterns, enhancing the accuracy of initial response. During wildfire incidents, the team will provide real-time field footage to support the on-site integrated command headquarters in developing firefighting strategies.
The corporation is a specialized forest disaster agency established under Article 58 of the Forest Disaster Prevention Act by integrating the Korea Forest Fire Prevention Technology Association, Korea Erosion Control Technology Association, and the Forest Pest Monitoring Center of the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute. It will perform consolidated functions including investigation, surveillance, and technical support for overall forest disasters such as wildfires, landslides, and forest pests.
By consolidating forest disaster response functions previously performed separately by individual agencies into a single specialized institution, the government aims to systematically strengthen forest disaster response capabilities and establish a rapid, field-centered response system.
The integration of disaster investigation, surveillance, and technical support functions is expected to strengthen scientific and comprehensive management systems covering the entire process from forest disaster prevention to response and recovery.
The corporation plans to simultaneously advance forest disaster response technology and strengthen field response capabilities based on specialized personnel and technical expertise accumulated through institutional integration. It will fully activate its field-centered forest disaster response system upon establishment.
Lee Yong-kwon, Forest Disaster Controller at the Korea Forest Service, stated, "By proactively activating field response systems before the corporation's establishment, we will ensure continuity and speed in wildfire response." He added, "With the establishment of the corporation, we will integrate forest disaster response functions that were dispersed across agencies to build a more systematic and scientific foundation for forest disaster response."