The purpose of this Act is to contribute to the stabilization of national living by preventing any loss of human life and property caused by fire, rapidly restoring the disaster and properly compensating any damage to human life.
 
The terms to be used in this Act shall be defined as follows:
1. The term "non-life insurance company" means a company which has obtained the permission of the fire insurance business in accordance with Article 4 of the Insurance Business Act;

2. The term "fire insurance bearing special agreement on indemnity for physical damage" means an insurance to cover any damage to a building caused by a fire and any liability for loss mentioned in Article 4(1);

3. the term "specific building " means State-owned buildings, educational institutions, departments, markets, medical facilities, entertainment places, accommodations, factories, apartment houses, and other building prescribed in the PD(Presidential Decree), which many persons enter or leave, or in which many person work or reside.
 
The area to which this Act applies shall be prescribed in the PD.
 
(1) The owner of a specific building shall, when another person dies or suffers any injury due to a fire in such building, be liable for compensating for the damage within the limit of the insurance amount mentioned in Article 8, even though he commits no fault. This provision shall also apply to the case where the owner commits a slight fault, regardless of the provisions of the Act on Civil Liability for Fires Caused by Negligence.

(2) The indemnity liability of the owner of a specific building for damage compensation shall be governed by Civil Law, in addition to those of this Act.
 
(1) Any owner of a specific building shall effect a fire insurance bearing special agreement on indemnity for physical damage(hereinafter referred to as ”° the fire insurance-cum-special agreement") carried on by a non-life insurance company, in order to discharge his liability for damage compensation mentioned in Article 4(1), However, in case he has effected the industrial accident compensation insurance Act, he may not effect the insurance covering the liability for damage compensation prescribed in Article 4(1) for such employees.

(2) In additions to the fire insurance-cum-special agreement mentioned in Para.(1), the owner of a specific building may effect any insurance covering damage caused by wind or flood disaster, or by collapse, etc.

(3) No non-life insurer shall refuse to conclude an insurance contract mentioned in Para.(1) and (2)

(4) The owner of a specific building shall effect the fire insurance-cum-special agreement within thirty days after the building passes the completion test or he acquires its ownership.

(5) The owner of a specific building shall renew the fire insurance contract-cum-special agreement mentioned in Para.(1) annually.
 
Article 4 & Article 5 shall not apply to the specific buildings falling under one of the following items:
1. Buildings owned by ambassadors, ministers and other equivalent envoys of foreign countries dispatched to the Republic of Korea;

2. Buildings owned by organizations of the United Nations and their employees(limited to only foreigners) dispatched to the Republic of Korea;

3. Buildings owned by foreign armed forces stationed in the Republic of Korea; and

4. Buildings for military use and those owned by foreigner which are prescribed in the PD.
 
(1) The FSC(Financial Supervisory Commission) may, when a person who is obliged to effect the insurance pursuant to Article 5 fails to do so, request the relevant administrative agency to take necessary measures against the obligor such as the cancellation of approval or permission, the suspension of business or restriction on use of the building.

(2) The administrative agency shall, upon receiving the request as mentioned in Para.(1), comply with it unless there is any justifiable reason.
 
(1) The amount of insurance effected pursuant to Article 5 shall be one of the following items:
1. In case of the fire insurance, the amount equivalent to the market value of the specific building concerned;
2. In case of death under the physical damage indemnity liability insurance, the amount to be prescribed in the PD, which should be five hundred thousand won or more for each dead person; and
3. In case of injury under the physical damage indemnity liability insurance, the amount to be prescribed in the PD with the limit of the insurance amount for each dead person.

(2) The criteria on determination of the market price mentioned in Para.(1) shall be provided in the MOFE(Ministry Of Finance and Economy).
 
In case a liability for damage compensation mentioned In Article 4(1) arises, any victim may make a request to the non-life insurer for the payment of amount insured pursuant to Article 8 in such manner as prescribed in the PD.
 
The claim for the physical damage indemnity liability insurance among insurance claims under this Act shall not be seized.
 
The non-life insurance companies shall establish the Korean Fire Protection Association(hereinafter referred to as "the Association") which carries out tasks such as safety inspection of fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment, research and enlightenment thereon, etc. upon obtaining the permission from the FSC in such manner as prescribed in the PD.
 
(1) The Association shall be a corporation
(2) The provisions of Civil Law concerning the corporation, except for those provided in this Act, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Association.
 
No person other than the Association prescribed in this Act shall use the Korean Fire Protection Association, or other similar titles.
 
The non-life insurance companies shall contribute expenses required for the establishment and operation of the Association in such manner as prescribed in the PD.
 
The Association shall conduct the following duties:
1. Safety inspection of fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment;

2. Assessment of discount grade on premium rate in the fire insurance on the basis of fire-fighting equipment;

3. Survey, research and enlightenment on materials concerning fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment;

4. Recommendation to administrative agencies and relevant organizations on the prevention of fire; and

5. Other duties authorized by the FSC.
 
(1) The Association shall conduct a safety inspection of the fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment of specific buildings each time insurance contracts are concluded or renewed. But, This doesn't apply to the specific buildings which shall make out safety enhancement plan by Article 13-2(1) of High Pressure Gas Control Act, or Process Safety Report by Article 49-2(1) of Industrial Safety and Health Act.

(2) The Association may, when deemed necessary, conduct a safety inspection of fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment for any specific building for which a fire insurance-cum-special agreement is effected. The proviso of Para.(1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to para.(2).

(3) Any owner of a specific building shall comply with the safety inspection mentioned in para.(1) and (2) unless there is any justifiable reason.

(4) Any owner of a specific building fails to comply with a safety inspection mentioned in para.(1) and (2), the Association may request the chief of the fire station to conduct the safety inspection thereof.

(5) The Association shall not collect expenses on any pretext in conduction a safety inspection mentioned in para.(1) and (2).

(6) The safety inspection mentioned in para.(1) and (2) shall be conducted in such manner as prescribed in the PD.
 
The Association shall, when deemed necessary in view of the result of the safety inspection pursuant to Article 16, recommend the administrative authorities concerned to take measures necessary for improving fire-fighting equipment.
 
(1) The Association may donate fire-fighting equipment to administrative authorities and other relevant organizations, or lend funds required for improving fire-fighting equipment to the owners of specific buildings.

(2) Non-life insurers and the Association may, in accordance with the provisions of their AI, establish factories to manufacture fire-fighting equipment or lend the funds to the manufacturers off fire-fighting equipment.
 
(1) The Association shall prepare its operational plan every year and submit it to the FSC””before commencement of the relevant fiscal year.

(2) The FSC shall, when it receives the operational plan mentioned in Para.(1), notify the Administrator of National Emergency Management Agency of the fact.

(3) Para.(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case of amendment of the operational plan mentioned in Para.(1).
 
(1) Any person who is disqualified as an officer of an insurer pursuant to Article 13 of the Insurance Business ACT shall not become an officer of the Association.

(2) Any full-time officer of the Association shall, when he intends to concurrently engage in other business affairs, obtain the approval from the FSC.

(3) The FSC may, when an officer of the Association falls under one of the following items, order the Association to dismiss him:
1. Cases where he violates this Act, any order issued thereunder, or the AI(articles of Incorporation);
2. Cases where he is judged guilty of a criminal case;
3. Cases where he is declared bankrupt;
4. Cases where he commits an act detrimental to the public interest;
5. Cases where it is difficult for him to carry out his duties because of any physical or mental liability; or
6. Cases where any cause falling under Item 1 occurs, or he is identified as the person falling thereunder.
 
(1) The FSC may, when deemed necessary for an efficient operation of the Association, order the Association to amend its AI or to change its operational methods, or issue any order necessary for the supervision.

(2) the Administrator of National Emergency Management Agency may issue any order necessary for the supervision on the duties mentioned in Article 15/1&3 among the duties of the Association mentioned in Article 15.
 
(1) The FSC may, when deemed necessary on a regular basis or at any time, order the Association to submit a report on its duties, or request the Governor to examine the operational status, books and records, documents, or other necessary things.

(2) Para.(1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where the Administrator of National Emergency Management Agency deems it necessary for the duties of the Association mentioned in Article 15/1 & 3.

(3) Any person who conducts the examination pursuant to para.(1) and (2) shall produce a certificate to indicate his authority to the persons concerned.
 
Any person who violates Article 5(1) shall be punished by a fine of up to five million won.
 
Any person who violates Article 13 shall be punished by a fine of up to three million won.
 
Matters necessary for the enforcement of this Act shall be prescribed in the PD.
 
 
ADDENDA
(Law No.2482 on February 6, 1973)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective from the date of promulgation.

Article 2 [Omitted]
 
ADDENDA
(Law No.4069 on December 31, 1988)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective from April 1, 1989.

Article 2 to Article 15 [Omitted]
 
ADDENDUM
(Law No. 5258 on January 13, 1997)
 
This Act shall be effective from the date of promulgation.


 
ADDENDA
(Law No. 5505 on January 13, 1998)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective from April 1, 1998.

Article 2 (Interim Measures on Disposition)
As of the enforcement of this Act, authorizations and other actions conducted by the administrative authorities or various declarations and other actions made thereto pursuant to the previous provisions shall be deemed the actions conducted by or made to the administrative authorities under this Act.
 
ADDENDA
(Law No. 5697 on January 29, 1999)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective from the date of promulgation.

Article 2 (Interim Measures on Officers)
The amendments to Article 20 shall apply to the officers who are first appointed after the enforcement of this Act.
 
ADDENDA
(Law No. 5982 on May 24, 1999)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective from the date of promulgation.

Article 2 to Article 6 [Omitted]
 
ADDENDA
(Law No. 6106 on January 12, 2000)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective after 3 months from the date of promulgation.

Article 2. (Interim Measures on Penal )
The previous Penal Provision applies to the violation which is made before this Act is effective.
 
ADDENDA
(Law No. 6891 on May 29, 2003)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective after 3 months from the date of promulgation.

Article 2 to Article 34. [Omitted]
 
ADDENDA
(Law No. 7186 on March 11, 2004)
 
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall be effective from the date of promulgation.

Article 2 to Article 5 [Omitted]