According to the 2025 analysis by Korea’s National Fire Agency, the climate crisis and demographic shifts are significantly altering disaster response patterns. The total number of fire department dispatches reached 4,520,501, a 3.4% decrease from the previous year, yet fire incidents rose by 1.9%, highlighting the impact of climate change. Rescue operations dropped by 9.2%, and ambulance services also saw a 1.2% decline. These trends underscore the need for policy adjustments to ensure public safety.
In 2025, 119 emergency calls totaled 10,654,902, a 6.2% decrease year-on-year. Fire cases reached 38,341, with careless accidents up by 1.4% (232 cases), and battery-related chemical fires surging by 16.7% (161 cases). Carelessness remained the leading cause of fire deaths, accounting for 27.8% (96 deaths), while fatalities from electrical causes increased by 17.5% (10 deaths). Rescue dispatches, especially for beehive removal, plummeted due to frequent autumn rains reducing bee activity.
Ambulance transports slightly decreased, but heat-related patient transfers spiked by 12% (336 cases) amid record-breaking heatwaves. Patients aged 60 and above made up 58.4% (1,021,423) of all transfers, a 1.6% increase, while those under 10 years old dropped by 11.2%, reflecting the effects of low birth rates and an aging society. Acting Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong emphasized the importance of data-driven, scientific disaster response systems to safeguard citizens.
The ongoing climate crisis and demographic changes are expected to further reshape disaster scenarios. The Fire Agency plans to strengthen scientific and systematic response strategies based on data analysis. Tailored measures for the elderly and new climate-related risks are increasingly necessary. These shifts highlight the growing importance of innovative disaster safety policies and societal discussions to protect public health.
This report provides concrete evidence of how the climate crisis and population aging are reshaping disaster safety systems. The rise in fire incidents and elderly patient transports signals the need for evolving fire, rescue, and ambulance policies. Leveraging AI and big data for predictive disaster management, developing elderly-focused emergency services, and creating climate risk maps are crucial technological innovations. Such changes will drive a paradigm shift in public safety, enhancing disaster management efficiency and citizen protection.