Holders of disaster and safety credentials to receive partial or full exemptions from certified disaster manager exam

People who hold disaster- or safety-related credentials will be eligible for partial or full exemptions from the first-stage examination for the certified disaster manager qualification, depending on the type of credential they hold.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety said Tuesday that the Cabinet approved and promulgated an amendment to the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management. The amendment passed the National Assembly plenary session on Sept. 17.

The certified disaster manager is a national professional qualification that verifies the competency and expertise needed to perform disaster management duties — including planning and coordination, building response systems, managing resources, and conducting inspections, investigations and recovery operations — at disaster management responsible agencies and similar institutions.

The qualification exam is divided into a first stage, consisting of four multiple-choice subjects, and a second stage, consisting of two written-answer subjects. Candidates who pass both stages and complete a separate training course earn the certified disaster manager qualification.

Under current law, people who hold disaster- or safety-related credentials under other statutes, including the National Technical Qualifications Act, may receive a full exemption from the entire first-stage exam.

However, because the subjects covered vary by credential, granting a blanket exemption from the entire first stage without accounting for what each credential actually tests raised concerns about fairness among applicants.

The amendment addresses this by specifying that the exemption may cover "some or all" first-stage subjects, with the precise scope to be determined by presidential decree.

The ministry plans to set out in the implementing decree partial first-stage exemptions for holders of credentials such as disaster prevention engineer, disaster prevention specialist and corporate disaster manager certificates, as well as for those who have completed required coursework in relevant fields of study. The decree will also establish a two-year exemption period for candidates who pass the first stage of the two-part exam.

Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung said the ministry would "swiftly push ahead with follow-up amendments to the implementing decree to ensure the smooth operation of the certified disaster manager qualification system and the uninterrupted execution of national policy tasks." He added that, with the first-stage exam set to be administered for the first time in 2028, the ministry would "thoroughly gather and reflect the opinions of relevant agencies and experts in the time remaining, and build a solid operational foundation to ensure the fullest possible cultivation of professionals in the disaster management field."