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Joint Participation by Military, Police, Research Institutes, and Universities… Busan Metropolitan City Conducts Practical Drill for Nuclear Accident Crisis Management Manual

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that from October 23 to 24, it will conduct a Practical Drill for the Crisis Management Manual across the city to ensure the highest level of public safety in response to potential nuclear power plant accidents.

The Practical Drill for the Crisis Management Manual is held annually with the primary goal of familiarizing relevant institutions with their respective roles in emergency alert dissemination and radiation detection during a radiological disaster, and of strengthening their practical response capabilities.

To prioritize citizen safety in preparation for potential radiological disasters, the city has been conducting joint training led by the local government as well as combined drills organized by the central government. In particular, based on lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear accident, Busan is the only local government in the country to carry out a specialized, wide-area joint radiation detection drill.

This year’s exercise is being conducted on the largest scale to date, assuming a real accident scenario. A total of about 160 participants from 29 institutions—including local governments, military, police, and academia—are taking part.

Led by the Nuclear Safety Division, the participating agencies include 16 district and county offices, the Namhae Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. These organizations will work together to strengthen their response capabilities to nuclear accidents, maintaining close cooperation to ensure the utmost protection of citizens.
The drill will be conducted in two stages: Day 1 (October 23) will focus on capacity-building education for field response personnel, while Day 2 (October 24) will consist of an action-oriented exercise.

Notably, for the first time, the Department of Radiological Science at Busan Catholic University will participate to enhance cooperation in radiological emergency preparedness and promote local human resource development in this field.

On Day 1, the preliminary education session will feature expert lectures aimed at improving the competency of field response teams. Dr. Ji Young-yong of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute will discuss environmental radiation detection and conditions in Fukushima Prefecture after the nuclear accident, and Professor Kim Byung-jik of the National University of Changwon will deliver a lecture on the characteristics of environmental radiation detection equipment and the role of local governments during radiological disasters.

On Day 2, the action-oriented drill will simulate a radiological emergency. Patrol vessels, helicopters, and vehicles will be mobilized to rapidly detect radiation across a wide area, allowing each organization to review and verify its missions and responsibilities.
The city will oversee the entire exercise.

• ●Land detection will involve the city government, 16 district and county offices, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

• ●Maritime detection will be handled by the Namhae Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (Busan and Ulsan branches).

• ●Aerial detection will be conducted jointly by the city, Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, and the Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Research Center at Pusan National University.

Additionally, in 10 districts and counties within the radiological emergency planning zone, administrative welfare centers will operate mobile public broadcasting systems to conduct real-time monitoring and control.

The main objectives of the drill include verifying the Crisis Management Manual, establishing an effective collaborative response system among related organizations, defining each institution’s mission and role according to radiological emergency phases, and strengthening real-time communication and control at the scene.
The adequacy of detection area assignments and team operations, as well as the initial municipal response system for implementing protective measures based on real-time measurements, will be evaluated.

Through pre-training for field personnel, Busan aims to enhance competency and ensure thorough preparedness.
Institutional missions and roles will be further defined and strengthened in accordance with the three levels of radiological emergency response—white, blue, and red, which are issued depending on the severity of radiation leakage or related incidents at nuclear facilities.

The city will also establish a robust on-site command and information transmission system using both the Public Safety LTE (PS-LTE) national disaster communication network, which integrates all disaster-related agencies, and the Radiation Protection Group LTE (RPG-LTE) network, which connects various field response organizations and local governments during radiological emergencies.

Kim Ki-hwan, Director General of the Citizens’ Safety Office, stated,
“The safety of citizens from radiological disasters is our top priority. Busan Metropolitan City will continue to strengthen its radiation safety management system through close cooperation among government, military, police, research institutes, and academia, doing our utmost to safeguard the global maritime city.”