Ulsan, where major fires are frequent, to add advanced equipment including a 2.4-billion-won unmanned firefighting robot

[Financial News Ulsan = Choi Soo-sang] The Ulsan Fire Headquarters has decided to significantly expand its advanced disaster-response equipment, including unmanned firefighting robots, and replace aging fire vehicles in a timely manner. Ulsan has a high concentration of national industrial complexes, with forests close to residential areas, leaving it at constant risk of major fires. The plan aims to protect firefighters and strengthen on-site response capabilities by introducing advanced firefighting equipment.
Kim Yong-su, head of the Ulsan Fire Headquarters, held a press conference at Ulsan City Hall on the 28th to announce the plan. He said the headquarters had requested a total of 6.72 billion won in its 2027 budget proposal and drawn up plans to add 15 fire vehicles and one unmanned firefighting robot for fire suppression.
A key part of the plan is the introduction of new advanced disaster-response equipment. The headquarters plans to spend a total of 3.15 billion won to deploy one wildfire response vehicle and one unmanned firefighting robot for fire suppression. The wildfire response vehicle will cost 750 million won, with 50% covered by national funding and 50% by city funding. With four-wheel drive and the ability to travel over rough terrain, the vehicle can spray water while moving through forested areas that ordinary vehicles cannot easily reach.
The unmanned firefighting robot for fire suppression will cost 2.4 billion won, split evenly between national and city funding at 1.2 billion won each. It is set to be remotely deployed at high-risk fire sites, such as petrochemical facilities where explosions or extreme heat make it difficult for firefighters to approach, and in response to new types of disasters such as electric vehicle fires.
Plans to add special disaster-response equipment already in the works are also proceeding as scheduled. The Ulsan Fire Headquarters has allocated a total of 3.34 billion won through the third supplementary budget for 2026 and is moving ahead with plans to acquire one unmanned demolition firefighting vehicle (1.4 billion won) and one high-performance chemical fire truck (1.94 billion won). The vehicles are scheduled to be deployed in the field in the second half of 2027 and the second half of 2028, respectively.

Aging fire vehicles will also be replaced to maintain a reliable state of readiness for emergency calls. A total of 14 vehicles across four types are slated for replacement, at a cost of 3.57 billion won. These include three fire engines to improve firefighting capabilities (1.47 billion won); two rescue buses to speed up the transport of personnel and equipment (440 million won); two fire investigation vehicles for on-site command and control (400 million won); and seven ambulances to ensure safe transport (1.26 billion won). The Fire Safety Grant will fund replacement of the fire engines, rescue buses and fire investigation vehicles, while the cost of the ambulances will be split evenly between the Emergency Medical Service Fund and city funds.
“Firefighting equipment is an essential basic requirement for protecting citizens' lives and firefighters' safety,” Kim Yong-su, head of the Ulsan Fire Headquarters, said. “We will also make every effort to provide user training and prepare for the equipment's operation.”
[email protected] Choi Soo-sang Reporter