Poster for the film The Firefighter, released on December 4, 2024 (Image courtesy of BY4M).
SEOUL, April 30, (Korea Bizwire) — When a fire breaks out, every second can mean the difference between life and death. In South Korea, officials have zeroed in on a critical benchmark: reaching the scene within seven minutes of the emergency call.
Beyond that window, authorities say, conditions become catastrophic. Within eight minutes, a typical fire can superheat a space to the point where flames erupt violently, making survival almost impossible.
Determined to beat the clock, South Korea’s National Fire Agency is intensifying its efforts to speed up emergency responses nationwide. This year, the agency rolled out an ambitious plan aimed at creating faster, smoother pathways for first responders — from smart entry systems in high-rise apartments to remote-controlled traffic lights at busy intersections.
At the heart of the plan is an expansion of the “119 Pass” system, a deceptively simple tool with life-saving potential. By affixing small sticker tags to emergency workers’ phones and radios, firefighters can instantly unlock apartment building doors, bypassing delays at main entrances.
National Fire Agency, 2025 Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan Briefing for Disaster Sites. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The system is already being tested in nine regions, including Busan and Ulsan, and the agency hopes to install it in 20% of the nation’s residential complexes by year’s end, with a goal of doubling that by 2026.
Improved traffic flow is another key strategy. Special signal control systems now allow fire crews to flip traffic lights at fire station exits, clearing roads before trucks even pull out. Emergency vehicle priority systems — already installed at nearly 28,000 intersections — ensure fire trucks and ambulances don’t lose precious time waiting at red lights.
Recent changes are even more sweeping: in 2024, the government introduced a centralized control system, allowing fire vehicles to maintain green-light corridors across city and county borders. It proved crucial during last year’s massive wildfires in southeastern Korea, when emergency units needed to respond across jurisdictions in a race against spreading flames.
Authorities are also redesigning vehicle identification. Now, every fire engine and ambulance sports a license plate starting with “998,” a special marker that triggers automatic gate openings at apartment complexes, public facilities, and schools.
Meanwhile, the agency is working with local governments to clear narrow alleys and crack down on illegal parking, pledging to reduce inaccessible zones by more than 5% this year. Enforcement has taken on a new urgency, with officials promising a “zero tolerance” approach toward anyone who obstructs emergency vehicles.
“Rapid response isn’t just a firefighter’s mission,” said Park Geun-oh, Director of the 119 Response Bureau. “It’s a collective promise we make as a society — that no life should be lost simply because help couldn’t arrive in time.”
In a nation where every second counts, South Korea is racing to make sure firefighters are there when it matters most — not a minute too late.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
