For the first time in six years, South Korea will conduct air strikes and civil defense exercises for the entire population this month
The South Korean Ministry of Administrative Security has stated that South Korea will conduct a nationwide civil defense exercise this month, simulating enemy air strikes and conducting safety evacuation exercises. It is reported that this is the first time in six years that South Korea has conducted such exercises for the general public.
On August 2nd, Yonhap News Agency quoted the South Korean Ministry of Administrative Security as saying that South Korea will conduct a 20 minute "air raid civil defense exercise" throughout the country at 2:00 pm on August 23rd. This is also the first time in six years since August 2017 that the South Korean government has held such exercises for the general public.
It is reported that civil defense exercises are divided into two categories: air raid exercises and disaster exercises, and South Korea's exercise will simulate the situation of enemy air strikes and exercise the evacuation process. The exercise will be conducted in the order of sounding the air defense alarm, issuing a warning, and lifting the alarm.
The air defense warning will sound nationwide in South Korea at 2:00 pm on August 23, followed by a 15 minute traffic control. People should take refuge in nearby safe places such as underground shelters. In some road sections where traffic control is implemented, drivers must stop on the right under the guidance of the police and listen to broadcasts to ensure smooth passage of fire trucks, ambulances, and military vehicles.
The alert will be issued at 2:15 pm on the same day, and the public can leave the underground shelter and maintain a state of alert for passage. After the alarm is lifted at 2:20, the public can resume normal life.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government previously conducted an "air raid civil defense exercise" on May 16 this year, but the exercise was mainly aimed at public institutions and schools, and did not provide evacuation training for ordinary people, nor did it implement traffic control.