The global fire protection market size was estimated to be USD 76.3 billion in 2022. In the same year, Korea imported goods worth USD 166 million from this segment. USD. The biggest hurdle that foreign companies face in entering this market is obtaining KFI (Korea Fire Institute) certification, which sets the standards for fire and safety technology in Korea. Attention must also be paid to the complex procurement system, price competitiveness, language localisation and the sufficient quality of local business partners.

This year's event, held under the slogan "K-Fire Industry, to the world! to the future!", was organised by the National Fire Agency and the City of Daegu in cooperation with the Korea Fire Institute, the Korea Fire Industry Association and the Korea Trade Promotion Corporation (KOTRA). The event is regularly one of the largest events of its kind in the world and the largest in Korea. This year for the first time, special theme zones were opened, such as those for cooperation in natural disaster response, smart safety equipment, and promoting future technologies in fire protection. For 2023, the Korean government has introduced the National Fire Industry Promotion Plan, which aims to develop new products and technologies and promote research in the field. It is intensively promoting the domestic market, expanding exports to foreign markets and reforming regulatory rules. The National Fire Agency's budget for 2024 is estimated at $247 million. This is an increase of 10.2% over the previous year. This budget is also intended to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to disasters in the face of increasing climate change-related incidents. It also aims to increase the size of the local fire industry to a value of US$5 billion by 2025.

This year, the event was well represented by four Czech companies, for which the local representation of the CzechInvest/Czechtrade agencies in Seoul prepared a Czech national stand. Among the exhibitors were Czech companies EGO Zlín, Avec Chem, s.r.o., Pohorelec and BR Group.

Further important information on this sector of the Korean market can be obtained at the links below:

1. NFA (National Fire Agency): www.nfa.go.kr
2. KFI (Korea Fire Institute): www.kfi.or.kr
3. KLRI (Korea Legislation Research Institute): www.klri.re.kr, keyword "fire"
4.  National Fire Protection Research Institute of Korea: www.nfire.go.kr (in Korean only) 

Czech representatives

Negotiations with companies

Czech companies interested in the field can contact the Commercial Department of the Czech Embassy in Seoul at: seoul.commerce@mzv.gov.cz.

Jakub Kopecký, economic specialist in the Czech Embassy Seoul