Disaster Management Information Sharing to Be Unified by Next Year

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The integrated defense disaster management information system, which consolidates the disaster management information systems currently operated separately by the Ministry of National Defense and each military branch, will be established by next year.

On the 7th, the Ministry of National Defense explained that it is promoting a plan to integrate the disaster management information systems currently operated separately by the Ministry and each military branch by next year, in order to establish a close cooperation system with various disaster-related agencies and respond quickly to disasters through real-time information sharing.

The integrated defense disaster management information system will strengthen communication with related agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, National Fire Agency, and Korea Forest Service, enabling a more effective response to national disasters.

As an emergency rescue support agency, the Ministry of National Defense has designated the Army Special Forces brigades and the Marine Corps 1st Division as 'Rapid Disaster Response Units,' and the Navy fleets and Special Warfare Command, as well as the Air Force 6th Search and Rescue Wing, as 'Search and Rescue Units,' respectively, and operates them accordingly. The military supported a total of 17,871 personnel, 416 helicopters, and 164 pieces of equipment in extinguishing large wildfires in Gangwon and Gyeongbuk regions from March 4 to 13 this year, and large wildfires in Miryang and Uljin from May 28 to June 3. It also contributed to snow removal, emergency rescue, COVID-19 quarantine, and containment of African swine fever spread.

Due to these efforts, the Ministry of National Defense reported that it was selected as the 'Best' institution for the third consecutive time in the disaster management evaluation conducted this year by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, targeting 335 organizations including central government departments, public institutions, and local governments, following 2019 and 2020.

The central evaluation team highly praised the Ministry of National Defense for forming a dedicated organization for COVID-19 vaccine transportation and establishing a transportation system in 2021, which greatly contributed to the government's COVID-19 response.