KDRT Team Leader Meets with South East Power and Doosan to Discuss Search Efforts

Yoon Joo-seok, the leader of the second team of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), met with officials from Korea South East Power and Doosan over two days starting September 12 to discuss corporate-level search and rescue operations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is working to continue search and rescue efforts within the scope of cooperation with the Nepalese government.

On September 14, the ministry announced, "Team Leader Yoon arrived in Kathmandu on the morning of September 12 and is scheduled to be active until the 17th." It added, "During the two days of meetings with Korea South East Power and Doosan, Yoon listened to their plans for corporate-level search and rescue activities."

The ministry emphasized that the second KDRT team is striving to continue search and rescue operations as permitted by the Nepalese government and with the cooperation of the Nepalese military. Currently, nine South Koreans are reported missing, all affiliated with Korea South East Power and Doosan Enerbility.

The first KDRT team, which returned earlier, focused its efforts on locating the missing persons but was only able to rescue one Chinese survivor. There were disagreements between the Nepalese government and the KDRT regarding the areas of interest for foot searches. Ultimately, the foot search in the areas of interest was conducted for just one day before concluding the schedule.

In response, families of the missing persons held a press conference to publicly express their dissatisfaction with the search activities of the first KDRT team. Although the second KDRT team has announced its intention to conduct search and rescue operations, challenges are anticipated. The size of the second team has been significantly reduced to eight members from the 44 in the first team, and advanced equipment was brought back to Korea when the first team returned due to regulations. Additionally, the Nepalese government has shifted from the search and rescue phase to the reconstruction and recovery phase. The second KDRT team has also been organized as a reconstruction and recovery team.