“Health After Dedication is the Responsibility of the State”... Incheon City Council Passes Ordinance Supporting Health Checks for Retired Firefighters

The Incheon City Council has established a system to support firefighters who have dedicated themselves on the front lines of disaster scenes to take care of their health even after retirement, and to substantively guarantee the right to rest for current public officials.

On the 3rd, the Incheon City Council's Administrative Safety Committee passed the 'Incheon Metropolitan City Ordinance on Supporting Special Health Checks for Retired Firefighters' and the 'Partial Amendment to the Incheon Metropolitan City Public Officials Service Ordinance', both proposed by Member Yoo Seung-bun (People Power Party, Yeonsu 3).

Nationwide, firefighters are constantly exposed to physical and mental risks such as exposure to harmful substances and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the nature of their duties. However, after retirement, the special health check benefits enjoyed during their active service have been cut off, making it difficult to detect and manage occupational diseases.

The newly established ordinance stipulates that firefighters who have served for more than 10 years and retired can receive support for special health checks within 10 years after retirement. Member Yoo emphasized, “It is the minimum responsibility of society to fill the health gap for those who have dedicated themselves for a long time in dangerous fields.”

The service ordinance amendment passed on the same day focused on strengthening the practical 'right to rest' for public officials. Key contents include allowing the 'long-term service leave' that was previously lost due to excessive workloads to be carried over to the next period of service. Additionally, a 'birthday leave' system was established, allowing one day of leave to be taken in the month of one's birthday for the morale and recharging of the public service.

Member Yoo cautioned against perceptions of special privileges, stating, “This amendment is an essential improvement for creating a sustainable public service,” and explained, “When the work-life balance of public officials is achieved, the quality of administrative services provided to citizens can also be enhanced.”