Shin Sang-jin, the mayor of Seongnam, emphasized on August 13 the importance of protecting citizens' lives and safety in any crisis situation.
He announced that the '2026 Eulji Exercise' will take place from August 18 to 21.
With increasing uncertainties in international relations and security environments, Mayor Shin stressed the need for practical readiness.
Through this Eulji Exercise, the city aims to enhance emergency response capabilities to adapt to rapidly changing security conditions and to strengthen cooperation among civil, military, and police sectors to ensure the safety of its citizens.
The Eulji Exercise is a comprehensive emergency preparedness drill designed to review and improve national emergency response plans and verify the cooperative framework among civil, military, and police agencies.
This year's training will involve over 1,000 participants, including Seongnam city officials, military personnel, police, and firefighters. The exercises will be centered around the city hall's emergency facilities and district situation rooms, simulating wartime scenarios and conducting response drills.
Previously, Mayor Shin chaired a preparatory meeting at the city hall's emergency facilities, where he directly assessed the readiness of all departments for the training.
During the meeting, he shared the training plans and response procedures with military units and the Seongnam comprehensive situation room, addressing potential issues and areas for improvement.
Mayor Shin reiterated the need for this training to be effective in protecting citizens' lives and safety during actual crisis situations.
On August 20, a practical training session will be conducted to allow citizens to experience emergency response processes firsthand.
At the Seongnam Civil Defense Safety Experience Center, training will be conducted for vulnerable populations in the Sujeong District, while a demonstration drill will take place at the E-Mart Seongnam store for multi-use facilities.
A joint practical training exercise involving civil, military, and police will be held at the main stadium of Tancheon Sports Complex.
This training aims to go beyond an administrative response framework, testing on-site cooperation with relevant agencies such as the military, police, and fire services, and helping citizens understand emergency response protocols and the roles of various agencies.
Citizens have expressed that this training should not be limited to internal administrative procedures but should serve as an opportunity to verify response systems directly related to their safety in real-life settings.
There is significant interest in the training targeting multi-use facilities and vulnerable populations, as it will help citizens understand what actions to take in the event of an emergency.
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin noted, "The recent conflicts in the Middle East and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, along with new security threats such as cyberattacks and drones, have created a very serious international situation."
He urged, "Through this Eulji Exercise, we must enhance our capabilities to respond quickly and effectively to any crisis and ensure that all agencies work closely together to protect the precious lives and safety of our citizens."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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