Bucheon factory fire kills firefighter and sparks safety probe

A fatal fire at a metal injection printing factory in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, has resulted in the death of firefighter Kim Jin-seok and injuries to seven others, including five firefighters. Police have booked the factory's 70-year-old representative on charges of occupational negligence resulting in injury and occupational arson.

Investigations suggest the fire may have been ignited by sparks from static electricity or friction interacting with flammable vapors during a cleaning process involving thinner. Authorities noted a lack of explosion-proof facilities despite the presence of highly flammable materials. The facility had not undergone a special fire safety inspection since September 2019 and was reportedly not registered as a factory, though it was registered for printing services.

The incident has reignited debates regarding firefighter safety and regional budget allocations. Critics have pointed to the growing gap between national and local government funding for firefighting services, noting that while firefighters transitioned to national status in 2020, the central government provides only a small fraction of necessary personnel and operational costs. This follows recent controversy regarding remarks describing firefighting budgets as a ‘fiscal straw’ during provincial budget discussions.