The two organizations signed a "Disaster Response Volunteer MOU" to build a joint disaster response framework for the Seoul area, pledging broad cooperation on disaster prevention, damage recovery, displaced resident support and disaster response education.
Seoul Metro and the Seoul Volunteer Center have signed a disaster response MOU to strengthen community safety networks across the Seoul area.
Seoul Metro (president Kim Tae-gyun) has signed a "Disaster Response Volunteer MOU" with the Seoul Volunteer Center to establish a joint disaster response framework for the Seoul area.
The agreement was driven by the need to strengthen community safety networks in the face of the climate crisis and the growing frequency of urban disasters. Seoul Metro brings expertise in urban railway safety, while the Seoul Volunteer Center has established operational capacity in volunteer management. The two organizations will collaborate to generate synergies and fulfill their shared social responsibilities.
Last year, Seoul Metro was recognized as an outstanding institution in a disaster management evaluation covering 340 central government agencies, public institutions and local governments, receiving a commendation from the Minister of Interior and Safety.
Under the MOU, the two organizations will cooperate across a range of areas, including restoring disaster-affected areas and supporting displaced residents, conducting advance inspections and prevention activities in disaster-vulnerable zones, and participating in disaster response education and capacity-building programs.
As part of the partnership, Seoul Metro will join Baro Bongsa-dan — a volunteer network operated by the Seoul Volunteer Center that brings together 91 organizations across Seoul. When the city's disaster safety headquarters issues a Level 3 emergency alert, the network immediately mobilizes volunteer units from each participating organization to carry out damage recovery and displaced resident support.
Seoul Metro has also been practicing company-wide giving. Last year, following the large-scale wildfires in the Yeongnam region in March, employees pooled 100 million won (about $68,000) in donations, which were contributed to the Korean Red Cross to support rapid recovery efforts.
Han Yeong-hui, head of Seoul Metro's planning division, said the agreement was significant because it expanded the framework for disaster response from an institution-centered model to one built on collaboration with the community and citizens. "We will continue to work closely with a wide range of specialized organizations in the community to protect the safety of citizens and contribute to community recovery," she said.
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