South Korea to Merge Forest Disaster Teams into Unified 'Forest Disaster Response Unit'
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
The Korea Forest Service will consolidate several scattered forest disaster teams — including wildfire prevention crews, special wildfire response teams, landslide prevention units, and pest surveillance squads — into a single 'Forest Disaster Response Unit' starting next year to enable faster, more systematic responses. A pre-review system for construction near forests will be introduced to assess disaster risks, and landowners will be allowed to remove fire-prone trees within 25 meters of a building boundary adjacent to forest areas to reduce wildfire damage. To counter rural decline, the government will permit mountain-village stay shelters for urban residents and those moving to rural areas (귀산촌), and introduce forestry smart farms to attract young foresters and boost productivity. Mountain land regulations will also be eased for national strategic industries by exempting tree volume (입목축적) requirements when converting forest land, facilitating project implementation. The Korea Forest Service says these changes prioritize public safety while reflecting on-the-ground and technological developments.
