Drill draws on five real Seoul disasters, including Seosomun overpass collapse
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon inspects exercise at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu
725 participants from 21 agencies test response to ground subsidence and more
The Seoul Metropolitan Government held its "2026 Safe Korea Disaster Response Exercise" at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu on Thursday, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in attendance.
The drill focused on testing the integrated response framework among relevant agencies by simulating a chain of disasters — beginning with earthquake-induced ground subsidence and escalating to structural collapse and an electric vehicle fire, according to the city government.
This year's exercise was designed as a realistic, scenario-based drill drawing on five actual disasters that struck Seoul in recent years: ground subsidence in Myeongil-dong, a collapse at the Seosomun elevated road demolition site, an electric bus fire at a garage in Eunpyeong, a guesthouse fire in Sogong-dong, and a fire in an underground utility tunnel in Seongbuk-gu.
The city combined these different incident types into a single complex disaster scenario, conducting a comprehensive review of response capabilities and inter-agency coordination — covering everything from situation alerts and on-site command to search and rescue, emergency medical care, and urban infrastructure recovery.
A total of 725 personnel from 21 agencies and organizations participated, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yangcheon-gu, fire and police services, the military, and Korea Electric Power Corporation. Seventy-six vehicles were deployed.
At the same time, a tabletop drill was held in a video-conference room at Seoul City Hall to test the activation of the city's disaster safety response headquarters. Officials reviewed the command and coordination structure, including situation alerts, assessment meetings, and the operation of 13 working groups within the headquarters.
Oh presided over a situation assessment meeting at Mokdong Stadium and toured five drill zones to inspect each agency's response and the use of advanced rescue equipment.
"This exercise is an opportunity to check whether the cooperative framework among relevant agencies is functioning effectively against complex disasters — and to review the entire process from initial response through recovery, including support for victims regardless of language or nationality," Oh said.
He added that the city would "identify and address any shortcomings found during the drill, incorporate them into the actual disaster response system, and complete Seoul as a 'special city for quality of life' that thoroughly protects the lives and daily routines of its citizens."
ken@heraldcorp.com
