Simulation Drill Tests Real-World Response to Aircraft Fire and Bioterrorism Scenarios
160 Participants from 26 Agencies
From Initial Response to Environmental Decontamination
Pohang City and Korea Airports Corporation Pohang Gyeongju Airport conducted the "2025 Pohang City Joint Large-Scale Simulation Drill for Bioterrorism Response and Aircraft Accident Management" at Pohang Gyeongju Airport on September 5.
Pohang City Conducts Large-Scale Joint Drill for Bioterrorism and Aircraft Accident Response in Preparation for APEC. Photo by Pohang City
This drill was organized in preparation for the 2025 APEC Summit, simulating bioterrorism and aircraft accidents that could occur at the airport. The aim was to assess and strengthen the cooperation system and response capabilities among relevant agencies in the event of an actual disaster.
The drill was divided into two parts: the first part focused on aircraft accident management, and the second part on bioterrorism response. In the first part, a scenario was staged where a fire broke out on an aircraft making an emergency landing due to engine failure. In the second part, an unidentified bag found in the airport terminal was treated as a suspected bioterrorism situation, and response training was carried out accordingly.
The bioterrorism response drill, supervised by the Pohang City Nam-gu Public Health Center, was hosted by North Gyeongsang Province and involved 160 participants from 26 related agencies, including the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Pohang Nambu Police Station, Pohang Nambu Fire Station, 1st Marine Division, and National Pohang Quarantine Station. Additionally, about 50 observers from 14 agencies in other cities and counties attended, adding further significance to the training.
The simulated infectious disease for this bioterrorism drill was smallpox, formerly known as "Cheonyeondu," a high-risk pathogen capable of causing mass casualties even in small quantities.
The drill was conducted in a manner identical to an actual disaster, including: reporting and disseminating information on suspected bioterrorism, civilian evacuation and control, on-site arrival of the initial response team, multi-detection kit testing and sample collection, expanding the control line, setting up decontamination and emergency medical stations, transporting exposed individuals, and environmental decontamination.
Jang Sangkil, Deputy Mayor of Pohang City, stated, "This drill served as an opportunity to preemptively review and improve our integrated disaster response system for bioterrorism and aircraft accidents ahead of the 2025 APEC Summit. We will continue to strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies through ongoing drills and work to ensure the safety of our citizens."
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