On August 20, Gijang County conducted a ground infiltration response training exercise at the Gori Nuclear Power Plant, simulating a drone terror attack as part of the '2026 Eulji Exercise.' The training involved collaboration among fire, police, and military agencies to assess their response systems, followed by a civil defense evacuation drill with over 100 residents participating.
The actual training scenario was based on a pre-established script that assumed a ground infiltration situation. The exercise specifically focused on responding to a drone-based terror threat, allowing agencies to evaluate their roles and on-site response systems. Participants included personnel from Gijang County, fire departments, police, and the military.
Starting at 2 p.m., a demonstration evacuation drill took place at the Dahengbokhan Comprehensive Social Welfare Center. The drill commenced with an air raid alert and involved around 100 residents, including participants from community programs and facility users.
The drill lasted for 20 minutes, concluding around 2:20 p.m. when the alert was lifted. However, the actual evacuation time was shorter, with the remaining time used for emergency action training for residents at the evacuation site.
A total of nine evacuation guides, including five welfare center staff and four county officials, assisted residents in moving through the building's various floors. The county plans to deploy a similar number of guides in real emergency situations.
For residents with mobility issues, evacuation guides will assist with stairway evacuations, as elevators may not be accessible during emergencies. No participants with mobility challenges were present during the drill.
The welfare center auditorium used as the evacuation site was not an official civil defense shelter but a temporary facility for training purposes. Currently, there are 32 designated civil defense shelters throughout Gijang County.
Prior to the drill, the county conducted promotional activities, including posting informational posters and distributing leaflets at the welfare center starting the previous week. As a result, participating residents were informed about the drill in advance.
The resident evacuation drill is conducted annually in August, and there are no additional training plans for this year. The county intends to hold a similar resident evacuation drill during next year's Eulji Exercise.
Woo Seong-bin, the mayor of Gijang County, stated, "In emergency situations, prompt and orderly evacuation is crucial," adding, "We will enhance our emergency preparedness capabilities through repeated training and assessments."
Meanwhile, the '2026 Eulji Exercise,' taking place from August 18 to 21, involves participation from government, military, police, and fire agencies. During the exercise period, Gijang County is conducting tabletop exercises, discussions on current issues, actual training at the Gori Nuclear Power Plant, and civil defense evacuation drills.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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