The Application of Hyangyak Based on Communities of Practice for Disaster Prevention Education and Its Implications

Abstract

This article attempts to explore some strategies for community-friendly disaster prevention education based on the traditional Korean community of practice, Hyangyak. This paper also employed Hyangyak as a methodological research framework. We found that Hyangyak would be able to play a critical role in tackling disaster prevention education. The results suggest that the concept of community of practice is compatible not only theoretically but also ideologically with Hyangyak. It is also found that the Hyangyak covenant among citizens has provided the public with details of disaster prevention education, which include citizen participation, disaster management, and organization operation. This study's findings illustrate such things as the development of an autonomous self-help spirit by community members, voluntary participation, dissemination of community concerns, and co-learning that reflects community circumstances. Keywords: Hyangyak, Disaster Prevention Education, Community of Practice, Participatory Approach