Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

During the mountain fire suppression operation in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, soldiers from the 50th Infantry Division worked to extinguish residual fires at the affected sites.

During a Cabinet Meeting on March 25, Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo urged the government to enhance the mountain fire response system and remain committed to extinguishing the large-scale fires over the weekend.

In this connection, the military remains committed to extinguishing the large-scale mountain fires that have spread across the Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions. The Defense Ministry stated that since the outbreak of the mountain fires, it has mobilized 5,000 troops and 146 helicopters to combat the flames, while prioritizing the health and safety of soldiers involved in suppression efforts.

On March 25, the Defense Ministry announced, “Today, we dispatched 1,500 soldiers and 45 helicopters, actively deploying troops and equipment to combat the fires, while ensuring that this mobilization does not compromise military readiness or ongoing operations.

The military began its support by deploying two helicopters to Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, on March 21, then progressively increased the deployment to 29 across all mountain fire-affected areas on March 22, 35 on March 23 and 24, and 45 on March 25. As of the morning of March 25, the military supplied a total of 95,000 gallons of aircraft fuel across 184 instances to helicopters operated by the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency.

Soldiers are focused on tasks such as extinguishing residual fires and offering medical support, rather than participating in the primary fire suppression efforts. The Defense Ministry has implemented a shift service system to ensure that personnel are engaged for no more than two consecutive days during operations, helping to manage their physical condition and provide adequate rest.

The Defense Ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring mission safety through prior health checks and risk assessments of troops, while minimizing mountain fire damages, protecting lives and properties, and maintaining military readiness.

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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