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Recommendation For Establishing National Fire Services System

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Policy Analysis Memo
TO: President Park, Geun Hye
FROM: Lee, Jae Chul
DATE: November 10, 2015
RE: Recommendation for Establishing National Fire Services System
Background and Summary
Now the government is pushing ahead with decentralization in order to strengthen the autonomy of local government and enhance regional competitiveness. One of main contents of decentralization is the reallocation of administrative affairs of the national and local governments among the State and local governments so that the functions of the State and local governments become harmonious.
In this regard the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (hereinafter, MOPAS) asserts that it is more efficient that the fire services related to the welfare of the …show more content…

In addition, the necessity of implementing the fire services at the central government level has been raised because fire services are directly connected with the safety of the people. It is the most basic obligation of the State assigned by the Constitution to strive for the protection of the life and body of people. In other words, fire services have the nature of national affairs rather than provincial governments’ affairs.
There are three options with regard to fire services system reorganization: switching to national fire services system, financial supporting for provincial governments’ fire services budget, and switching to local fire services system. The most desirable option is switching to national fire services system, considering the nature of fire services, efficiency, and ensuring the safety of people through the effective response to disasters. According to article 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, the State has a duty to protect citizens from disasters. Unpredictable disasters require proactive responses of central government due to difficulty in coping with disasters with provincial governments’ fire services force. As we have already experienced in the Sewol Ferry sinking, we need to establish strong and unitary command system to secure the safety of people from disasters. Thus I recommend switching to national fire services system.

Policy Options
Simply “do nothing” is not appropriate in the current situation given the

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