Breakfast served at a fire station in Ulsan on Sept. 26. Courtesy of Rep. Han Byeong-do's office

The budget for firefighters' meals is facing criticism, as some meals cost as little as 3,000 won ($2.20 USD), prompting complaints that even convenience store lunchboxes offer better quality.

Some fire stations don't even have nutritionists, raising concerns about the quality and adequacy of the food provided.

Data from the National Fire Agency, submitted to Rep. Han Byeong-do of the Democratic Party of Korea, reveals that a fire station in Daegu spent just 3,112 won per meal. In comparison, a station in South Gyeongsang Province spent 3,852 won, while one in South Jeolla Province allocated 3,920 won per meal.

Other fire stations reported slightly higher expenditures, although they still remained below typical food prices, with most stations spending around 4,000 won a meal.

These figures, based on a sample survey of 241 fire stations nationwide, do not necessarily represent regional averages. In some cases, they account only for food expenses, excluding labor costs for cooks or nutritionists.

The issue of inadequate meals for firefighters first gained attention in 2015 when images of them eating instant noodles after battling a fire at a used car lot circulated online. This sparked calls for better treatment, yet nearly a decade later, the problem persists.

Dinner served by a fire station in North Gyeongsang Province, Sept. 25. Courtesy of Rep. Han Byeong-do's Office

Many fire stations have meal budgets lower than the cost of a typical convenience store lunchbox, which generally exceeds 4,000 won. In contrast, the budget for meals at Seoul's public high schools is 5,398 won, and the meal allowance for at-risk children in Seoul is 9,000 won.

As the situation gained attention, criticism has emerged online, with comments like, "Even prisoners probably eat better than this," and "We need to improve meals for first responders, not just their conditions during large-scale fire incidents." These remarks underscore the public's discontent.

Lunch served at a fire station in Incheon, top, and a fire station in Jeju, bottom, on Sept. 25–26. Courtesy of Rep. Han Byeong-do's office

Budget allocation

One reason for the low costs is that the monthly budget for public officials, set at 140,000 won, is the same for administrative staff and first responders, even though firefighters work in shifts and require more meals.

While administrative employees are allocated funds for 20 meals a month (one per day), firefighters, who often work three shifts, require funding for 30 meals. As a result, the per-meal cost for shift workers drops to just 4,666 won compared to 7,000 won for regular employees.

Furthermore, the budget includes labor costs for nutritionists and cooks, further reducing the amount available for food. Some fire stations don't even use the full 140,000 won allocated for food expenses, meaning that the actual amount available for ingredients is even lower.

In some areas, such as South Jeolla Province, there are no nutritionists assigned to fire stations, while North Jeolla Province, North Gyeongsang Province, and Jeju each have only one nutritionist responsible for the entire region.

The disparity between fire stations is significant, with the highest meal cost recorded at H Fire Station in Incheon, where meals cost 6,887 won. This is followed by I Fire Station in Jeju at 6,705 won and K Fire Station in Gyeonggi Province at 6,200 won.

While some local governments provide additional funding for meal costs based on local ordinances, the support varies widely across the country. Out of 18 cities and provinces, only eight provide such support, and the level of support is inconsistent.

Rep. Han urged the National Fire Agency to negotiate with the Ministry of Personnel Management for an increase in meal budgets for shift workers and called for a full review of the meal systems at fire stations. "We need to unify the meal systems across regions through comprehensive investigations and the enactment of local ordinances," he said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.