The Nation's Shield, '2022 Eulji Freedom Shield' Is About to Begin!

Gyeongnam Province Announces and Finalizes Preparation Items for Eulji Exercise by Institution

At the 2022 Eulji Freedom Shield Exercise Preparation Briefing, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, and Kwon Dae-won, Commander of the 39th Infantry Division (far left), are saluting the national flag.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The 2022 Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise preparation briefing was held on the 9th at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office's provincial administration meeting room.

The briefing was attended by Governor Park Wan-su, Major General Kwon Dae-won of the 39th Infantry Division, deputy heads of cities and counties, and former heads of all departments and bureaus.

Governor Park led the briefing, listened to presentations on each agency's preparations for the successful execution of the 2022 Ulchi exercise, and conducted a final inspection.

He stated, "Gyeongnam is a very important area for security, densely packed with airports, ports, defense projects, and key industries," adding, "Please prepare thoroughly through realistic training to ensure full readiness for emergencies, prioritizing the protection of the lives and property of the residents."

Marking its 54th year, the Ulchi exercise is a comprehensive national crisis management training designed to establish a perfect national emergency preparedness posture through exercises on national crisis management before war, such as local provocations, wartime transition procedures, and total war exercises after the outbreak of war.

This year, it has been renamed 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)' and is conducted in conjunction with the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises.

According to the province, a crisis management exercise to prepare for local provocations will be conducted on the 16th.

From the 22nd to the 25th, about 25,000 participants from 262 organizations, including civilian, government, military, police, and fire departments, will engage in tabletop exercises, wartime task discussions, civil defense evacuation drills, and joint actual exercises by related agencies in response to a drone terror attack at the Korea Gas Corporation Tongyeong base.

The province will set up a 'Security Awareness Event for Residents' in front of the provincial government plaza, featuring displays of security and rescue equipment, survival games, CPR experience corners, and security photographs.

A provincial official said, "We will prepare various events so that residents can easily understand and access national security."