Disaster Response Training for Local Government Heads to Improve "On-Site Decision-Making" in Wildfires and Major Fires

[Financial News]   The Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted the 2026 Disaster and Safety Management Training for Heads of Local Governments on the 30th at the National Disaster Management Training Institute in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. The program was designed to strengthen the disaster response capabilities of local government heads, who are responsible for on-site decisions, including resident evacuations, when major disasters such as wildfires and large-scale fires occur.
This was the second training session, following the first one held on July 14, shortly after the launch of the ninth locally elected term. It focused on helping local government heads build disaster management capabilities early in their terms and respond proactively to major disasters.
The training began with a special lecture on the national disaster management system by Kim Kwang-yong, head of MOIS's Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters. It also involved the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, the Fire Commissioner, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, among other agencies responsible for responding to different types of disasters.
The session also shared real-world disaster response cases, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of local government heads during wildfires, major fires, and serious industrial accidents. With the fall season approaching, when the risk of wildfires and fires rises, particular emphasis was placed on strengthening local government heads' on-site response capabilities, including their decisions on resident evacuations.
Kim Kwang-yong said, "During the fall, when the risks of wildfires and fires rise, local government heads are the people responsible for deciding whether to evacuate residents and overseeing the situation on the ground. We will actively support efforts to strengthen disaster response capabilities so that local government heads can make decisions and act without hesitation in disaster situations."

[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter