Data-driven approach to boost effectiveness of disaster relief support

The National Disaster Management Research Institute under the Ministry of Interior and Safety held a forum Thursday at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the theme "Asking About Life After Disaster: The Past, Present and Future of Disaster Recovery Surveys."

The forum was organized ahead of the July 22 implementation of an amended Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, which was revised in January to establish a legal basis for conducting surveys on disaster victims' recovery levels. The event focused on how the new regime should be operated once the law takes effect.

Participants particularly focused on sharing the results of the institute's ongoing "Disaster Recovery Level Survey" and exploring ways to advance the program going forward.

The forum featured presentations on the current state of recovery surveys, key findings from 2025, examples of policy and research applications, and the institute's planned direction for 2026.

A panel discussion among academic experts then examined ways to improve the survey framework and strengthen its use in policy, under the theme "The Future and Development of Recovery Surveys."

An Chae-myeong, acting director of the institute, said the forum "provided an opportunity to share the real-life conditions and recovery status of disaster victims and to strengthen close cooperation among research, policy and field operations." He added that the institute would "build effective, victim-centered support policies based on the disaster recovery data to be accumulated going forward."