Fire safety managers play a critical role in protecting lives and property from fire hazards. However, the current training system for fire safety managers in South Korea does not align with the nine legally mandated responsibilities outlined in the Fire Prevention and Safety Management Act. Training is standardized regardless of the type or risk level of designated buildings. This study analyzes the structural shortcomings of South Korea’s training system using a comparative approach, focusing on the Fire and Life Safety Director (FSD) program in the United States and the Responsible Person (RP) framework in the United Kingdom. The findings reveal systemic deficiencies in the Korean system, including a lack of risk-based curriculum differentiation, insufficient scenario-based training, and the absence of competency evaluations. Based on these findings, this study proposes three improvements: implementing risk-level-specific curricula according to building type and size, incorporating practical scenario-based exercises, and establishing practical competency assessments as part of the qualification process. These recommendations aim to enhance the operational readiness, professionalism, and credibility of fire safety managers in South Korea.
Park et al. (2026) studied this question.