Gwangju Seo-gu Conducts Nation's First Integrated Training for Disaster Safety Volunteer Corps

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 20th that it will conduct specialized training to strengthen disaster response capabilities by integrating community-centered disaster and safety volunteer organizations (Autonomous Disaster Prevention Group, Safety Monitoring Volunteer Group, Safety Guardians) for the first time nationwide.

This year, Seo-gu will operate the "Local Disaster Safety Leader Safety School" to enhance the capabilities of residents closest to the field, aiming to prevent disaster spread through rapid and appropriate initial response led by residents in the event of a disaster.

Seogu District Office building. [Photo by Seogu]

Additionally, on the 23rd, Seo-gu will invite Song Changyoung, a top expert in disaster prevention and safety and a professor at Gwangju University (Chairman of the Korea Disaster Safety Technology Institute), to deliver a lecture on the humanities of disaster safety. Specialized education focusing on actual cases, such as disaster prevention, response, and recovery training in citizen governance in the United States and Japan, is also planned for July and September.

In particular, Seo-gu plans to cultivate local disaster safety leaders who take the initiative by conducting combined training on heavy rain, earthquakes, fires, daily safety, and CCTV virtual reality field experiences.

Previously, Seo-gu strengthened its role as a disaster management responsible agency by operating the "Public Officials Safety University" last year for all employees to enhance public officials' safety awareness and disaster safety capabilities.

Mayor Kim Ikang of Seo-gu said, "There are limits to the district office's efforts alone amid increasingly complex disaster situations such as unpredictable climate change. We will do our best to realize a 'citizen-led disaster safety Seo-gu' by strengthening the public-private cooperation system to prepare in advance for disasters and actively respond in the early stages when situations occur."

Meanwhile, anyone in the local community can apply for the training at the Seo-gu I-Park Accident Response Support Division General Support Team, even if they are not affiliated with disaster and safety volunteer organizations.

Shin Dongho, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr