Korea Expressway Corporation Surpasses 10,000 Graduates in Tunnel Disaster Prevention Training ... Achievement After 9 Years

The Only Full-Scale Tunnel Training Facility in Korea
Contributing to the Spread of a Safety Culture

The Korea Expressway Corporation announced on the 18th that the number of graduates from its Road Tunnel Disaster Prevention Safety Training at the Tunnel Disaster Prevention Certification Center has surpassed 10,000. This achievement comes nine years after the program began in 2017.

The number of graduates from the Road Tunnel Disaster Prevention Safety Training at the Korea Expressway Corporation Tunnel Disaster Prevention Certification Center has surpassed 10,000.

This training is designed to raise awareness of road tunnel safety and strengthen practical response capabilities by providing customized education to a wide range of participants, from the general public to tunnel managers.

The Tunnel Disaster Prevention Certification Center is the first and only specialized tunnel disaster prevention education and testing facility in Korea, created by remodeling the decommissioned Yeongdong Tunnel.

The center features a full-scale tunnel measuring 475 meters, a two-story education building covering 993 square meters, 19 types of disaster prevention facilities, 2 types of special disaster prevention facilities, and 9 types of experiential facilities, enabling field-oriented education that combines theory and practical training.

Since launching training for internal employees in 2017, the corporation has expanded the program to include the general public, transportation workers, firefighters, and tunnel managers from 2018 onward.

The training is offered annually from April to November and is divided into beginner (12 hours), intermediate (23 hours), and advanced (5 hours) courses.

In particular, since 2021, following the revision of the "Guidelines for Installation and Management of Road Tunnel Disaster Prevention and Ventilation Facilities," disaster prevention training has become mandatory for tunnel managers. As a result, comprehensive training is now being conducted nationwide for tunnel operators, including officials from local governments, the National Land Management Agency, and private expressway operators.

Based on the success of its tunnel disaster prevention training, the Korea Expressway Corporation has received several government awards, including the Prime Minister's Award and the Minister of Education Award (2024), as well as the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award (2021).

A representative from the corporation stated, "We are strengthening our role as a comprehensive safety infrastructure by not only providing tunnel disaster prevention safety training, but also offering a full-scale tunnel testbed, disaster prevention facility quality testing, and safety evaluations. We will continue to take the lead in promoting a safety culture that the public can truly experience."