The Korea National Fire Agency will upgrade its disaster response system using artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced equipment. The agency plans to expand AI-based 119 emergency call response, fire prevention and investigation, and the use of unmanned equipment for hazardous scene response.
The Fire Agency announced these key initiatives at the "2026 Second-Half Work Plan" briefing held at the Yeongbin-gwan of the former Blue House on the 5th.
AI and big data will be actively used for 119 emergency calls and fire prevention and investigation. The agency will build a next-generation 119 system in which AI prioritizes urgent calls when calls surge, and automatically assigns response units based on the type and location of the incident. Big data analysis capabilities will be introduced to the National Fire Information System for use in analyzing fire causes and establishing prevention measures.
The agency will expand a system in which unmanned advanced equipment is deployed to hazardous scenes ahead of firefighters. It will develop sensor equipment that detects vapor, gas, and collapse and explosion risks, as well as vehicle-type, four-legged, and tracked firefighting robots. It will also strengthen the development and field verification of advanced personal protective equipment, including firefighting drones, ultra-lightweight fire suits, thermal imaging devices, and exoskeleton suits.
Fire safety management at industrial sites will also be strengthened. Factories and warehouses with recurring fires or frequent fire detector malfunctions will be designated as priority fire safety management targets, and the installation of intelligent fire detectors will be expanded. The agency plans to broaden sprinkler installation standards from the current floor-count basis to include area-based criteria, and to support the distribution of automatic fire extinguishers at facilities that were previously not subject to installation requirements.
The competitiveness of the fire industry will also be enhanced. The agency will support fire companies in registering patents and obtaining overseas certifications. It will strengthen overseas market expansion and export support in cooperation with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
"We will carry out fire administration that preemptively analyzes and prepares for risk factors and vulnerabilities, so that citizens can feel it in their daily lives," said Choi Yong-cheol, acting commissioner of the Korea National Fire Agency.
