DAEJEON — The Korea Forest Service said on the 16th that it will operate a 24-hour emergency response system as part of its 2026 Chuseok holiday wildfire prevention plan, citing an expected rise in visitors tending family graves and a forecast for dry, clear weather.
The agency will run a wildfire prevention awareness campaign from Sept. 19 to 27. It will concentrate monitoring personnel around major public cemeteries and hiking trails to step up guidance and enforcement against high-risk activities such as illegal open burning and the handling of fire, and will inspect firefighting facilities and equipment in advance.
The agency will also place firefighting resources, including wildfire suppression helicopters and ground crews, on standby for rapid response, and plans to deploy available nearby resources quickly if a fire breaks out.
A 24-hour emergency response link will be maintained between the Central Forest Disaster Situation Room and regional wildfire situation rooms. The agency will promote reporting of any wildfire to the Central Forest Disaster Situation Room or through the Smart Forest Disaster mobile app, and will use emergency text alerts and on-screen broadcast notices to publicize wildfire prevention rules.
"When visiting mountains to tend family graves, please take particular care not to light fires or carry any source of ignition or flammable materials," said Kum Si-hun, head of the Korea Forest Service's wildfire prevention division.
