JCS to Conduct Integrated Defense 'Hwarang Training' Starting from the 10th

On the afternoon of the 24th, Yoon Jang-hyun, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, delivered a greeting at the 2015 Hwarang Training Development Seminar held at the Chungmu Facility of City Hall, attended by about 250 participants including local government heads, military, police, reserve forces commanders, and related personnel. Photo by Gwangju City

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The Joint Chiefs of Staff (Integrated Defense Headquarters) will conduct the '2021 Hwarang Exercise' in a total of five regions starting with the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area until November.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 7th, the exercise, which will be held from the 10th to the 12th, will focus on establishing an integrated defense posture centered on local government heads, operating the Integrated Defense Council and Defense Support Headquarters, post-management against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (WMD) attacks, protection of nationally important facilities, as well as intensive training for integrated response to non-traditional threats such as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Also, considering the COVID-19 situation, practical field training exercises (FTX) will be conducted focusing on major drills, and other exercises will be conducted as command post mobilization exercises (CPMX) with only essential personnel participating. The Hwarang Exercise is organized by the Integrated Defense Headquarters and is conducted biennially by dividing the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide into 11 regions.

It has been expanded nationwide since 2001, and during the exercises, a government integrated evaluation team operates to assess the integrated defense operation readiness of agencies such as local governments, police, and fire departments.