Pohang city in North Gyeongsang Province signed an MOU Wednesday with the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy, the Korea Meteorological Administration and North Gyeongsang Province to establish and operate the tentatively named Pohang Earthquake Safety Center, at the KMA's Seoul headquarters.
The signing ceremony was attended by Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon, North Gyeongsang Province Administrative Vice Governor Hwang Myeong-seok, Second Vice Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Lee Ho-hyeon and KMA Commissioner Lee Mi-seon.
The MOU covers completing the center in the first half of 2028, building the organizational, staffing and budgetary framework needed for stable operations, running seismic monitoring equipment and earthquake safety education and experience facilities, and establishing a cooperative network among industry, academia, research institutions and government to share earthquake research findings.
Progress on the project had stalled because no agency had been designated to run the center after its completion, delaying site-use permits and other related procedures. The MOU resolves that impasse: the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy will construct the center, the KMA will operate it, and North Gyeongsang Province and Pohang will provide administrative support to help activate it.
"Given the deep pain and trauma that Pohang residents suffered from the earthquake, we will actively cooperate and provide support so that the Earthquake Safety Center can become a space that reflects on the lessons of the earthquake and raises safety awareness among our citizens and the broader public," Mayor Park said.
The Pohang Earthquake Safety Center will be built on the former geothermal power plant site that triggered the 2017 Pohang earthquake. The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy is funding the entire project with 22 billion won ($16.2 million) in national budget, targeting completion in the first half of 2028.
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