Interior ministry sets 2027 safety plan with 25.4 trillion won budget

The interior ministry said Thursday it has finalized a 2027 national safety management plan that commits 25.4 trillion won ($19 billion) across 451 projects, with 16.5 trillion won ($12.4 billion) of that spending directed at prevention rather than response.

The plan was confirmed after review by the 66th Safety Policy Coordination Committee, with 29 government ministries participating. It is organized around five strategic tasks: preparing for new risks, digital-based management, rapid on-site response, strengthening resilience and working with the public.

Measures include a first comprehensive life-safety plan, enactment of a social disaster response act, the purchase of two new firefighting helicopters for wildfires — a large one and a medium one — an AI-based intelligent CCTV control system, nationwide operation of resident evacuation support teams, mandatory basic safety and health education for foreign nationals, and institutionalized dedicated local government units to provide integrated support to disaster victims and their families.

Local governments will follow with their own plans, with provincial and metropolitan councils due by the end of December and city, county and district governments by the end of February 2027.

Kim Kwang-yong, head of the ministry's disaster and safety management headquarters, said protecting people's lives amid rapid change is the state's duty.

"In a rapidly changing environment, including climate change and advances in cutting-edge technology, protecting the lives and safety of the people is the state's responsibility," Kim said. He added that the government will actively adopt advanced technologies such as AI to predict disasters in advance and build a safety management system that operates quickly in the field.