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Strengthening Disaster Response Systems Through Integrated Land, Sea, and Air Radiation Detection Drills

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it will conduct the “First Half 2026 Metropolitan-Wide Joint Radiation Detection Exercise” throughout the city for two days beginning today (June 18) to ensure citizen safety in preparation for potential radiological disasters.

This exercise is a specialized metropolitan-level training program conducted exclusively by Busan Metropolitan City among local governments nationwide. It assumes realistic disaster scenarios such as accidents at nuclear facilities and radioactive material leaks and will assess the adequacy and effectiveness of radiation detection plans based on the Crisis Management Action Manual.

The Crisis Management Action Manual defines the emergency alert dissemination procedures, radiation detection missions, and responsibilities of each agency to protect residents in the event of a radiological disaster.

The exercise is a large-scale joint operation involving 26 civilian, military, and police organizations. A record-high 265 personnel will participate to inspect response systems for actual accident scenarios and ensure safety at training sites. The program consists of “Preliminary Education” on June 18 and “Operational Response Drills” on June 19.

With citizen safety as its highest priority, Busan Metropolitan City plans to establish a close interagency cooperation framework involving 16 districts and counties, military branches, the Korea Coast Guard South Regional Headquarters, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, and other related organizations. Through this collaboration, the city aims to secure scientific and objective detection data and strengthen an effective disaster response system.

On the first day, June 18, training will include competency-building education for field response personnel and hands-on equipment operation exercises. On the second day, June 19, participants will conduct operational drills based on simulated real-world scenarios.

The main components of the exercise include verifying the effectiveness of the Crisis Management Action Manual, conducting integrated land, sea, and air radiation detection through interagency cooperation, clarifying the missions and responsibilities of participating organizations according to radiation emergency levels, and establishing a field-centered real-time communication and situation reporting system.

Specifically, the exercise will focus on evaluating the appropriateness of radiation detection zones and detection team organization and operations by participating agencies, as well as an initial response system based on actual measurements to support protective actions for residents.

In addition, pre-exercise education for field responders will strengthen practical response capabilities, while clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of each agency according to radiation emergency levels to enhance interagency cooperation.

Radiation emergency levels constitute a three-tier emergency response system—White, Blue, and Red—issued according to the severity of an incident involving radiation leakage or other emergencies at nuclear facilities.

Under the overall coordination of the city’s Nuclear Safety Division, field responders from the 16 districts and counties and related organizations will share real-time information through the Public Safety-LTE (PS-LTE) network and the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Group Network (RPG-LTE). These systems will support on-site command, control, and information dissemination.

PS-LTE is a nationwide wireless communication network integrating all disaster-related organizations.

RPG-LTE is an integrated wireless communication network linking field response agencies and local governments involved in radiological disaster response.

In particular, on June 19, when the operational response drill takes place, vehicles, patrol vessels, and helicopters will be mobilized to conduct integrated land, sea, and air radiation detection across extensive areas of the city. The exercise will intensively inspect the mission execution and role performance systems of participating organizations.

Land-based detection operations will be carried out by Busan Metropolitan City, the 16 districts and counties, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Maritime detection operations will be conducted by the Korea Coast Guard South Regional Headquarters, while aerial detection operations will be performed by Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, and a research institute affiliated with Pusan National University.

Kim Gi-hwan, Director General of the Citizen Safety Office, stated, “Through this radiation detection exercise, we will further strengthen our field response system that places the highest priority on citizen safety in the event of a radiological disaster. We will do our utmost to secure disaster response capabilities befitting a global maritime city through practical training based on cooperation among civilian, military, and police organizations.”