의용소방대의 선진화를 위한 민관협력 발전방안

Abstract

This paper examines the volunteer firefighting squad aiming to assist in the official firefighting function, as wells as its efficient operation measures in line with environmental changes. Firefighting services call for the most professional training and abilities of public services provided to communities. To efficiently respond to accidents, it requires a close civil- government collaboration system. The repre- sentative civil volunteer fire-fighting squad has a long history and tradition, but it needs to reengineer its organization and reestablish its role according to a change in disaster environ- ments, and the expansion of firefighting orga- nizations, as well as to its activities. Firefighting officials and civil volunteer firefighting crews continue to receive new professional training using the newly unveiled advanced equipment and machines according to emergency situations. Therefore, the volunteer firefighting squad needs to establish a closer collaboration system with the public organization, and its advancement through civil-government coll- aboration calls for the formulation of appro- priate measures and mid- and long-time policies in line with changing environments. First, the purpose and philosophy of the civil volunteer firefighting squad need to be reestablished. The squad needs to establish its philosophy as a civil autonomous organization for disaster management and safety culture movement, and to be renamed to deliver the image of conducting diverse social activities that suits the 21st century. Second, with the cutting of official firefighting crews, volunteer firefighting squads need to be stationed in rural areas where it is difficult to secure firefhighting crews. And, a system needs to be established to speedily mobilize the squads to effectively respond to disaster situations. Third, political neutralization measures are needed. To enable Chairman of the Volunteer Firefighting Sqad Federation to faithfully perform his duties, election methods need to be improved, and the laws on the election of officials serving public posts and the prevention of illegal elections need to be amended. Fourth, the squad's role and composition need to be efficient. Accord- ing to regional characteristics, the squad's role and composition need to be designed again. In consideration of the unit of firefighting activities and the living zones, the organization needs to be reshuffled, and the person authorized to establish a volunteer firefighting squad and the budget providers need to be reestablished(the mayor and the provincial governor install the squad, appoint its members, and shoulder necessary budgets). If wider-coverage muni- cipalities cannot afford to shoulder budgets, exceptions may be taken to the matter. The organization needs to be expanded, gender composition ratios need to be flexible, and other organization composition systems need to be improved. Fifth, in order to strengthen the professional abilities in the organization's activities, measures need to be worked out to expand the participation of young people. Residents in other areas, non-self-employed people, and professional personnel by area need to join the squad, and education and training need to be strengthened. Sixth, an autonomous organization operation system should be established. There is a need to structure an organization management system suitable for regional circumstances, to rationalize the composition of high-ranking officials, and to pursue the squad's own projects in consideration of the community environment. Seventh, there is a need to bolster citizen-friendly image. There is a need to unify images through the introduction of CI and other measures, to introduce citizen- friendly uni- forms, and to publicize the organization. To prevent and respond to disasters, and remedy disasters situations, the squad needs the community's collaboration. Also, the squad needs to be jointly responsible for the deve- lopment of the community, and to form mutual partnerships to facilitate exchanges and collaboration. The administration needs to recognize the community as a partner, and to create all necessary administrative and financial environments to facilitate the autonomous participation and creative activities by citizens and civic organizations. The policy department needs to study NGOs' operation to provide a more systematic and professional support.