On the 11th, South Korea's first firefighting specialized public medical institution, the 'National Fire Hospital,' officially opened in Eumseong-gun, North Chungcheong Province. President Lee Jae-myung attended the opening ceremony, and the National Fire Agency announced that a national-level integrated medical support foundation for firefighters has been established.

Choi Yong-cheol, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, stated, "The National Fire Hospital is a national achievement to repay the dedication of firefighters," adding, "We will strive to take responsibility for the health of field personnel and become the center of a national safety net that all citizens can trust."

The newly established National Fire Hospital is a general hospital equipped with 19 clinical departments and up to 302 beds, providing medical services including outpatient and inpatient care, emergency medicine, health screenings, and rehabilitation therapy. In particular, it has built a customized medical system for firefighters centered on four specialized centers: a Burn Center, a Mental Health Center, an Integrated Rehabilitation Center, and a Health Promotion Center. The hospital plans to provide integrated medical services that go beyond simple treatment to encompass prevention, early detection, rehabilitation, and health management.

Firefighters work at various disaster scenes, including fires, rescues, and emergency medical services, and are constantly exposed to physical and mental risks such as musculoskeletal disorders, trauma, burns, respiratory diseases, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Accordingly, the need for a specialized medical system tailored to these occupational characteristics has been continuously raised.

Meanwhile, the National Fire Hospital will also serve as a regional public medical hub for the central region of North Chungcheong Province. By responding to severe and emergency patients as well as essential medical needs, and by providing medical services to local residents, the hospital plans to contribute to improving regional healthcare accessibility and addressing medical service gaps.