Dobong-gu conducts safety drill simulating compound disaster at sports facility

Dobong-gu in Seoul conducted the "2026 Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill" at the Changdong Culture and Sports Center and the district office on Wednesday, the district announced Monday.

The Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill is a nationwide exercise held under the Ministry of Interior and Safety's master plan, in which central government ministries, local governments and public institutions take part to assess their disaster response capabilities.

The district selected sports facility disasters as this year's drill scenario, drawing on past incidents such as the Jecheon sports center fire, where large crowds can amplify casualties. The exercise assumed a compound disaster beginning with a fire in the recycling area on the first below-ground floor of the Changdong Culture and Sports Center, which spread to the entire parking garage and was compounded by a traffic accident between evacuating vehicles, an electric vehicle fire and a partial collapse of the first below-ground floor ceiling.

Dobong-gu District Mayor Kim Dong-wook presided over a situation assessment meeting of the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to determine the response strategy, while an Integrated Disaster Scene Support Headquarters commanded by the deputy district mayor was set up on site, linking tabletop exercises and field drills in real time.

A Disaster Victim Support Center was also operated in conjunction with the Integrated Support Headquarters to review procedures for assisting displaced residents.

The field drill proceeded in sequence: initial response and evacuation guidance by the facility's self-defense fire brigade, firefighting and rescue operations, activation of the emergency rescue control unit, and emergency treatment and transport of mass casualties.

"We will carefully address the shortcomings identified in this drill and continue to hold realistic exercises so we can protect the lives and safety of our residents," Kim said.

About 340 personnel from civilian, government and military organizations took part on Wednesday, along with 45 vehicles. Participants included operational units of the district's disaster response agencies, as well as related organizations such as the Dobong Fire Station, Dobong Police Station, military units, Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korean Red Cross, volunteer fire brigades and community disaster prevention teams.