The current Act prescribes that an interested person of a specific fire-fighting object shall install, maintain, or manage fire-fighting systems specified by the Presidential Decree in accordance with the fire safety standards determined and publicly announced by the Commissioner of the National Fire Agency.

However, although there have been not a few fire tragedies happening recently and fire sprinklers are playing a very important role in extinguishing a fire in its early stages, only 16 percent of elementary, middle, and high schools in Korea have installed sprinklers. The rate of sprinkler installation is particularly low in kindergartens (7%) and elementary schools (17%), which are attended by younger children who are relatively less capable to evacuate, which may lead to large numbers of fatalities in the event of a fire.

Accordingly, the Amendment obligates specific fire-fighting objects, such as child-care centers pursuant to Article 2, subparagraph 3 of the Infant Care Act, kindergartens pursuant to Article 2, subparagraph 2 of the Early Childhood Education Act, or schools falling under the subparagraphs of Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education, to be equipped with a fire-fighting system that includes sprinklers; and prescribes that the necessary budget shall be subsidized with priority by the State and local governments, thereby aiming to protect the lives and safety of students in the event of a fire or other emergencies (Article 9, paragraphs 4 and 5 newly inserted).