Ministry of Public Safety and Security (South Korea)

The Ministry of Public Safety and Security (MPSS) (국민안전처, 國民安全處) was a cabinet-level ministry of the government of South Korea. It was responsible for public safety, disaster management, and emergency response. Established in November 2014 following the Sewol ferry disaster, its primary objective was to improve South Korea's national response capabilities to large-scale disasters and improve overall public safety coordination.

The MPSS oversaw the National Fire Agency, the Korea Coast Guard, and was responsible for coordinating various government agencies, local governments, and civilian organizations during emergencies. Its core functions included establishing and enforcing safety regulations, conducting disaster prevention activities, managing emergency response systems, and providing support to disaster victims.

The ministry’s establishment aimed to centralize control over disaster management, which was previously distributed among several agencies. This restructuring was intended to streamline communication, improve resource allocation, and enhance the effectiveness of disaster response efforts.

In 2017, the MPSS was dismantled and its functions were redistributed to other government entities. The Korea Coast Guard was returned to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the National Fire Agency was elevated to an independent agency under the direct control of the President. A new Ministry of the Interior and Safety was created, taking over the remaining functions of the MPSS related to disaster management and general public safety.