Promotion of Innovation in Disaster Response Work System in Gwanak-gu

Establishment and Operation of a ‘Disaster Response Team’ for 24/7 Disaster Situation Response

Building a ‘Disaster Joint Response System’ with Fire Stations, Police Stations, and Related Agencies for Rapid Disaster Information Sharing

Enhancing Social Disaster Capabilities and Reestablishing Disaster Response Systems through ‘Strengthening Safety Management Plans’

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Recently, anxiety over large and small safety accidents that can occur anytime and anywhere has been increasing. It is a time when innovation in safety awareness and response systems across society is more necessary than ever.

Accordingly, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has established the ‘Gwanak-gu Disaster Response Work System Improvement Plan’ for 2023, unveiling new safety measures and focusing all efforts on disaster safety management through revolutionary improvements at every stage from disaster prevention to recovery.

The district’s disaster response work system improvement measures focus on ▲establishing a ‘Disaster Response Team’ for 24/7 disaster situation response ▲building a ‘Disaster Joint Response System’ for rapid disaster information sharing among related agencies ▲and strengthening the ‘Safety Management Plan’ including reestablishing the social disaster promotion system.

First, a ‘Disaster Response Team’ capable of rapid dispatch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year will be newly established in the first half of this year. The Disaster Response Team will be staffed with safety experts and operate a 24-hour disaster preparedness system through emergency dispatch vehicles equipped with communication devices. During normal times, it will conduct surveillance activities, and in case of disaster, it will perform initial response by dispatching to the scene and activating the disaster response system.

Gwanak-gu Office will establish a hotline with related agencies such as fire stations and police stations for rapid response, conducting active joint responses from disaster sign detection and initial response to recovery stages. In addition, it plans to share emergency contact networks with related agencies to establish a cooperative response system for disaster occurrences.

Following the Itaewon tragedy, preparations for social disasters will also be strengthened. Events with crowds but no organizer will be added as a type of disaster accident, and manuals will be revised so they can be immediately used at response sites during actual disasters. Furthermore, the safety management plan will include proposals to reorganize the Integrated Support Headquarters to link the roles of the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the existing Integrated Support Headquarters.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “Safety can never be emphasized enough. Learning from past safety accidents, we will build a robust disaster response system through cause analysis and create a Gwanak-gu where safety is the top priority. We will continue to do our best to make Gwanak safe with the safety of residents as our highest value.”

Yongsan-gu Expands Issuance of Disaster Small Business Confirmation Certificates Following Itaewon Tragedy

From December 9 to 30, 2022, 240 businesses received certificates... Additional applications accepted from January 19 to February 15

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Park Hee-young) is expanding the issuance of ‘Disaster Small Business Confirmation Certificates’ to support small business owners who suffered sales losses due to the commercial area downturn caused by the October 29 tragedy.

The district conducted certificate issuance from December 9 to 30 last year. As a result, 244 businesses applied, and 240 businesses were issued certificates.

A district official said, “Inquiries continued even after the application deadline,” adding, “We requested the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to extend the issuance period for damage report confirmation certificates and to expand the coverage area.”

Accordingly, additional issuance of damage report confirmation certificates for disaster small business support in special disaster zones will be conducted from January 19 to February 15. The support target has also been expanded from the original Itaewon 1 and 2-dong to include Yongsan 2-ga-dong, Hannam-dong, Seobinggo-dong, and Bogwang-dong small business owners affected. However, early termination is possible considering financial conditions.

Required documents include a damage report related to the Itaewon incident, a copy of the business registration certificate (including corporate registration certificate for corporate businesses), objective sales proof documents such as POS sales or card sales data from VAN companies, and a small business confirmation certificate.

The district reviews submitted applications and documents to determine eligibility and support scale, then issues disaster small business confirmation certificates. Those who receive the certificate within 30 days can visit commercial banks (for pure credit or secured loans) or the Yongsan branch of the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation (for guaranteed loans) to receive support.

Support includes ▲emergency management stabilization funds from small business policy funds ▲interest and guarantee fee reductions on regional credit guarantee foundation guarantees ▲increased guarantee ratios ▲extended loan terms ▲and maturity extensions on existing funds.

Emergency management stabilization funds provide up to 70 million KRW per business, with interest rates reduced by an additional 0.5 percentage points from 2.0% to 1.5%. Loan terms are extended from 5 to 7 years. Regional credit guarantee foundation guarantees support up to 200 million KRW per business, with the guarantee ratio raised to 100% and guarantee fees preferentially fixed at 0.1%.

Small business owners wishing to receive damage report confirmation certificates should visit the Itaewon On-site One-Stop Support Center located on the first floor of the district office with the required documents.

At the One-Stop Support Center, in addition to certificate issuance, services include ▲consultations on government policy funds such as emergency management stabilization funds and disaster small business guarantees ▲information on government and related agency support for small business owners and self-employed persons in management crises ▲consultations on management difficulties and suggestions, with referrals and feedback from relevant agencies.

A district official said, “We will not only provide short-term support to merchants struggling due to the October 29 tragedy but also promote various policies for long-term revitalization of the Itaewon image.”