Calls for extending the retirement age of volunteer firefighters are growing stronger in the South Jeolla Provincial Council as personnel shortages worsen in organizations responsible for community safety.
According to the South Jeolla Provincial Council on June 4, a resolution urging the extension of the retirement age for volunteer firefighters, sponsored by Provincial Council Member Choi Myung-su (Democratic Party of Korea, Naju 2), passed the Safety, Construction and Fire Services Committee.
Volunteer fire brigades have been core organizations protecting regional safety for over 110 years through fire suppression assistance and rescue and emergency support. However, critics point out that the mandatory retirement age of 65 under the current Act on the Establishment and Operation of Volunteer Fire Brigades is causing the loss of experienced personnel.
The bigger problem is that veteran members must leave the field upon reaching retirement age, despite being capable of healthy activity due to advances in medical technology.
In South Jeolla Province, the current volunteer firefighter workforce is approximately 26.9 percent, or 3,732 members, below authorized strength. Difficulties in recruiting new members are raising serious concerns about gaps in the regional safety network.
A bill to raise the retirement age to 70 is pending in the National Assembly, but deliberations have been slow.
In response, Choi strongly urged the retirement age extension as a realistic and essential measure to maintain regional safety networks, rather than a simple relaxation of age criteria.
"Volunteer firefighters with deep knowledge of local conditions and rich field experience are irreplaceable assets," Choi said. "Having experienced members leave the field simply because of age is a critical factor that further weakens already insufficient regional disaster response capabilities."
He added: "The Act on the Establishment and Operation of Volunteer Fire Brigades should be promptly revised to extend the retirement age to 70, reflecting the reality of an aging society. There is an urgent need for substantial government-level support measures so that members with proven experience and a sense of responsibility can continue serving their communities with pride."