Emergency readiness of 13 regional offices, affiliated agencies reviewed
Ulchi CPX to run Aug. 18–21 over four days
Wartime SME support systems, raw material supply chains under scrutiny
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is set to review the emergency readiness of its 13 regional offices and affiliated agencies ahead of the 2026 Ulchi CPX.
The ministry said it will hold a preparation briefing for the 2026 Ulchi CPX on Monday at its conference room in Sejong, reviewing the state of preparations and each agency's response plans.
This year's Ulchi CPX will run from Aug. 18 to Aug. 21 over four days. At the briefing, the ministry plans to conduct a comprehensive review of wartime transition procedures, each agency's mission execution framework and inter-agency coordination systems.
The session will open with an overall progress report from the emergency and disaster preparedness officer, followed by a sharing of key priorities and preparation plans by division. Wartime response capabilities and emergency systems will also be assessed. Major training plans to be confirmed include emergency civil servant mobilization drills, the setup of wartime command structures and integrated situation rooms, and the relocation of personnel to reserve facilities.
The Ulchi CPX is a national emergency preparedness exercise designed to maintain government functions and ensure public safety in the event of a crisis. It includes drills to sharpen procedures for responding to security threats such as local provocations and cyberterrorism.
The ministry said it will focus particularly on verifying the effectiveness of its Chungmu Plan and examining whether the SME support system can function normally during an emergency. Key areas of review include wartime SME support, raw and subsidiary material supply chains, and business site assistance measures.
First Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok said the Ulchi CPX is "an important exercise for maintaining government functions without disruption in a national emergency and for rigorously testing the SME support system under realistic conditions." He urged all divisions and affiliated agencies to "carefully review wartime transition procedures, situation-reporting systems, and evacuation and relocation plans again, and to make every effort to ensure they can respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner to any crisis."
hong@heraldcorp.com
