Korean Disaster Research Articles

Cultural Identity and Realistic Reflection: Commonalities and Differences in Chinese and Korean Disaster Movies

Disaster movies, as a classic film genre, aim to present the essence of disasters and the brilliance of humanity through stunning audio-visual effects and a tragic aesthetic core. The commonality between Chinese and Korean disaster movies lies in their focus on "little people" within disasters, emphasizing "soft expression" of emotions and adopting parallel narratives and causal loops in their storytelling strategies. However, due to differences in the film industry systems and ideologies of the two countries, Chinese and Korean disaster movies diverge in thematic expression. Chinese disaster films often feature a strong national main theme and sentiments of patriotism and family, whereas Korean disaster films focus more on exposing human nature and reflecting on society. This paper will explore the commonalities and differences between Chinese and Korean disaster movies in terms of character development, narrative perspective, emotional presentation, and social values.

Cultural Transmission in Korean Genre Films: Examining the Disaster Movie “Train to Busan” as an Example

In recent years, Korean films have become increasingly prosperous. In addition to borrowing from the classic Hollywood model, their genres have also widely incorporated local culture and values, revealing human nature. The combination of these two elements has broadened its dissemination worldwide and widely promoted Korean culture, providing some inspiration for the development of Chinese genre films. Taking the Korean disaster film “Train to Busan” as an example, this paper analyzes the general framework of cultural communication employed in South Korean films. By studying the film’s content and communication style, it becomes evident that Korean filmmakers blend local values into their narratives while referring to the Western film model. This nuanced approach not only captivates audiences but also carries cultural messages that resonate universally. At the same time, it is also compared with China’s films, which provides strategic reference for the international spread of Chinese films. By recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of both cinematic traditions, China's film industry can refine its strategies, enhancing its global reach while preserving its unique cultural identity. In essence, the success of Korean films offers valuable lessons and inspiration for the continued growth and influence of Chinese genre films in the global cinematic landscape.

Classifications of Trauma Exposure and Their Associations With 3-Year Follow-up Psychological Symptoms Among Korean Victims of Disaster: A Latent Class Analysis.

This study aimed to classify patterns of trauma exposure among disaster victims using latent class analysis (LCA) and to examine group differences in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms over three years. Data were obtained from a 3-year panel survey of Korean disaster victims (male = 461, female = 513) who responded to four types of trauma experiences: threatened death, injury or disease, witnessing injury or death, and loss of family or relatives in 2017. The LCA yielded three classes: the low-threat (66.1%), life-threat (29.4%), and multi-threat (4.5%) groups. One-way analysis of variance showed that the multi-threat group had the highest levels of PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms significantly decreased between 2017 and 2018 in the life-threat and multi-threat groups. However, there were no differences between 2018 and 2019 in any groups. These results highlight the importance of early intervention during the proximal period after trauma, particularly in individuals exposed to multiple types of traumatic experiences.

Visual Design in Korean Disaster Films: A Case Study of The Flu and Train to Busan

Disaster films, a captivating genre within the ever-evolving world of cinema, wield a global impact through their unique narratives and emotional resonance. Korean disaster cinema has garnered special attention for its distinctive visual aesthetics and emotional depth, earning acclaim both domestically and on the international stage. Hollywood boasts a rich tradition of disaster films, marked by advanced technology and a mature production system, attracting a vast global audience. In an era of economic globalization, disaster films hold substantial market potential. Two controversial but widely praised Korean disaster films, Train to Busan and The Flu, have left an indelible mark worldwide. Through their taut narratives and stunning visuals, these films immerse viewers in worlds of chaos and crisis. This paper delves into these films, analyzing their visual storytelling techniques, thematic exploration of disasters, and engagement with societal issues. By scrutinizing elements such as imagery, color palettes, camera angles, and special effects, we uncover how these films engross audiences in tension-laden narratives, prompting profound contemplation of human nature and societal complexities.

The Role and Implications of Shamanism in Korean Disaster Management

The number of shamans, as a category of disaster management stakeholders, has significantly increased in Korea. However, the role of shamans in mitigating the psychological impact of disasters has not been adequately studied. This research explores how to improve the role of shamanism in the field of Korean disaster management toward the ultimate goal of mitigating the psychological impact of disasters. Descriptive content analysis is used to systematically compare the secularism approach with the psychological impact mitigation approach by considering professional shamans, community leaders, educators and researchers, and disaster victims. The most significant finding is that Korea needs to supplement its current secularism approach with the psychological impact mitigation approach. Asian nations could benefit from insights on the significance of behavioral change, cultural competency, neo-shamanism, and multiple networks. The value of this study lies in its more rigorous investigation of Korean shamanism in relation to disaster management compared with previous works.

재난 시 소셜미디어 사용지침(ISO 22329: 2021) 국제표준의 활용방안 연구

This study aimed to investigate how to utilize ISO international standard (i.e., Guidelines for Using Social Media in Emergency: ISO 22329) in Korea. The research method was systematic literature review. In so doing, the paper initiated to examine the Framework Act on Korean Disaster and Safety Management, the requirements of ISO 22329, and other disaster management laws in the nation. The result was that Korea could not address the process of emergency operation, appropriate procedure establishment, and emergency monitoring system. In addition, the extent of cooperation among social media experts was not satisfactory. Hence, this paper strongly advocated for the importance of social media standards during the occurrence of various emergencies. In the future, we hope than research on imporving emergency response by using social media standards will continue.

Perceived Disaster Preparedness and Willingness to Respond among Emergency Nurses in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Emergency nurses serve a vital role in disaster situations. Understanding their disaster preparedness and willingness to respond to a disaster is important in maintaining appropriate disaster management. The purpose of this study was to explore emergency nurses’ disaster preparedness and willingness to respond based on demographic and disaster-related characteristics, and their willingness to respond based on specific disaster situations. Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, the Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire for Nurses and willingness to report to duty by type of event were used to collect data from 158 nurses working in four regional emergency medical centers from 1 December 2019 to 30 April 2020 in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Emergency nurses with personal disaster experience as a victim or witness (t = 3.65, p < 0.001), professional disaster experience (i.e., working as a nurse) (t = 3.58, p < 0.001), who were current members of Korean Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (t = 6.26, p < 0.001), and who received disaster-related training within a year (t = 5.84, p < 0.001) showed a high level of perceived disaster preparedness. Emergency nurses who have professional disaster experience (i.e., working as a nurse) (t = 2.42, p = 0.017), are on a current disaster team (t = 2.39, p = 0.018), and have received disaster training (t = 2.73, p = 0.007) showed a high level of willingness to respond. Our study showed a high willingness to respond to natural disasters and low willingness to respond to technological disasters. Discussion: To promote the engagement of emergency nurses in disaster response, disaster education programs should be expanded. Enhancing the safety of disaster response environments through supplementing medical personnel, distributing available resources, and providing sufficient compensation for emergency nurses is also essential.

Comparative Analysis of Disaster and Safety Datasets, Data Quality, and Services in Korean and Australian Public Data Portals

The objective of this study is to design improved plans for disaster and safety management through comparative analysis of datasets comprising details regarding the disaster and safety sector that are available in Korean and Australian public data portals and thereby examine the associated portal strategies and national operating systems To this end, based on previous studies and national public data portal evaluation standards, public data portal comparison standards were established. Furthermore, quantitative configuration analysis, data mining analysis, data quality analysis, and various service analyses were conducted. Consequently, it was found that compared to the Australian public data portal, the number and proportion of public data openings for disaster and safety management are significantly smaller in the Korean public data portal. The number of prevention datasets available in both countries accounts for the highest proportion in disaster and safety management. In addition, “supply management and resource support” accounts for the majority of Korean disaster response collaborations, whereas in the case of Australia, “comprehensive situation management” has a high proportion. In terms of data quality, Australian datasets include 69.54% of the total insoluble data, which implies inefficient data quality management. However, there are merely few Korean insoluble datasets. Through comparative analysis of the national operating systems, it was found that detailed guidelines for public data are available in Australia. However, the Korean public data portal is operated in accordance with the comprehensive Framework Act on Intelligence Informatization. Hence, a promotion strategy operation policy has to devise for the Korean public data portal to expand the usage of public data in the disaster and safety sector, along with quantitative growth policies that will increase the number and proportion of public data in the disaster and safety sector.

Comparative Analysis of Disaster and Safety Datasets, Data Quality, and Services in Korean and Australian Public Data Portals

The objective of this study is to design improved plans for disaster and safety management through comparative analysis of datasets comprising details regarding the disaster and safety sector that are available in Korean and Australian public data portals and thereby examine the associated portal strategies and national operating systems To this end, based on previous studies and national public data portal evaluation standards, public data portal comparison standards were established. Furthermore, quantitative configuration analysis, data mining analysis, data quality analysis, and various service analyses were conducted. Consequently, it was found that compared to the Australian public data portal, the number and proportion of public data openings for disaster and safety management are significantly smaller in the Korean public data portal. The number of prevention datasets available in both countries accounts for the highest proportion in disaster and safety management. In addition, “supply management and resource support” accounts for the majority of Korean disaster response collaborations, whereas in the case of Australia, “comprehensive situation management” has a high proportion. In terms of data quality, Australian datasets include 69.54% of the total insoluble data, which implies inefficient data quality management. However, there are merely few Korean insoluble datasets. Through comparative analysis of the national operating systems, it was found that detailed guidelines for public data are available in Australia. However, the Korean public data portal is operated in accordance with the comprehensive Framework Act on Intelligence Informatization. Hence, a promotion strategy operation policy has to devise for the Korean public data portal to expand the usage of public data in the disaster and safety sector, along with quantitative growth policies that will increase the number and proportion of public data in the disaster and safety sector.

An Analysis of Analytic Hierarchy Process for Inter-Korean Cooperation in Crisisonomy

The Ministry of Unification, for alleviation of tensions between the two Koreas, is planning cooperation in the health and medical fields such as COVID-19 quarantine and preparation against disaster. The relative priorities were determined for the areas for inter-Korean joint cooperation and the method. The results are as follows: First, experts suggested that the inter- Korean disaster safety cooperation is more important in Inter-Korean exchange area such as Mt. Kumgang and Kaesong Industrial Complex compared to in Area requiring joint response Second, they suggested that the inter-Korean disaster safety cooperation is more important in Recovery-centered type such as contingency and earthquake compared to in Slow progression or Strong-response types. Third, they recognized that the inter-Korean disaster cooperation is more important in the urgent response type than in the Permanent dispatch type. Fourth, they suggested that, although it is more difficult to reach an agreement between the two Koreas, the form of supporting using both equipment and personnel from is more necessary in inter-Korean cooperation in disaster safety.

A Suggestion for Disaster Relief Governance - Comparing NVOAD in the US and KDSN in South Korea -

Both the Korean Disaster Safety Network (KDSN) and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) in the US were established for effective civil governance on disaster relief, but produced quite different outcomes. This study aimed to overcome limitations of previous studies taking governance as given and suggest how to improve the Korea’s disaster relief governance. In an organizational perspective, a simple and parallel organizational structure of KDSN makes coordination difficult in disaster due to the different capability of each organization, and thus a systemic perspective would be needed for effective and synergistic decision-making structure. In an operational perspective, KDSN has focused on a one-time campaign outcome and was weak in information sharing and networking. In an institutional perspective, the KDSN’s official status should be strengthen to assume the role of governance and on-scene responsibility. A strategic approach is needed for effective coordination of the Korea’s disaster relief governance.

Mitigating Psychological Impact: The Experience of Korean Disaster Management.

The psychological impact of disasters has not been adequately addressed in Korea. This research aims to evaluate how Korea should improve its management of the psychological impact of disasters toward the ultimate goal of effective disaster management. Qualitative content analysis is the main method applied. Nonprofessional management is compared with professional management by considering governments, psychology specialists, disaster victims, and local communities. The main finding is that Korea must change its current management style from nonprofessional to professional. Neighboring nations need to implement supplementary measures toward adopting a systematic approach that considers all phases of the disaster management cycle, emergency planning, and a long-term approach. The value of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of the issue of psychological impact from the perspective of disaster management in Korea.

“대한민국의 안전이 추락했다.”: 한국 재난 영화 속 붕괴된 공동체 윤리의 새로운 국가적 트라우마

“대한민국의 안전이 추락했다.”: 한국 재난 영화 속 붕괴된 공동체 윤리의 새로운 국가적 트라우마

Factors Affecting South Korean Disaster Officials’ Readiness to Facilitate Public Participation in Disaster Management Using Smart Technologies

As the frequency and intensity of catastrophic disasters increase, there is widespread public sentiment that government capacity for disaster response and recovery is fundamentally limited, and that the involvement of civil society and the private sector is ever more vital. That is, in order to strengthen national disaster response capacity, governments need to build disaster systems that are more participatory and function through the channels of civil society, rather than continuing themselves to bear sole responsibility for these “wicked problems.” With the advancement of smart mobile technology and social media, government and society as a whole have been called upon to apply these new information and communication technologies to address the current shortcomings of government-led disaster management. As illustrated in such catastrophic disasters as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the 2010 Haitian earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005, the realization of participatory potential of smart technologies for better disaster response has enabled citizen participation via new smart technologies during disasters and resulted in positive impact on the management of such disasters. In this context, this study focuses on the South Korean context, and aims to analyze Korean government officials’ readiness for public participation using smart technologies. On this basis, it aims to offer policy suggestions aimed at promoting smart technology–enabled citizen participation. For this purpose, it proposes a particular model, termed SMART (System, Motivation, Ability, Response, and Technology).

한국 재난을 소재로 한 영화연구

장르영화연구와 개별사건연구의 방법을 응용하여 한국 재난을 소재로 한 영화를 탐구하고, 한국이 재 난을 소재로 한 영화를 발전시키는 과정에서 할리우드 재난영화의 모델을 벤치마킹한 것을 발견한다. 또 한 한국 토종문화가 녹아 있어 독특한 소재화 수단과 뚜렷한 현지색을 형성하고 있다. 한국 정부는 영화 에 많은 창작 공간을 정책적으로 주었고 한국 재난 장르 영화들이 재난 서사를 통해 사회 현실을 반영할 수 있다는 점에서 비판적이다. 재난을 소재로 한 영화는 예술적 표현이자 삶의 실제 사진이며 그것은 실 제 세계의 예술적 표현이다. 재난에 임하는 인간의 공포심에 대한 예술적 묘사이며 재난이 닥쳐오는 순 간의 인간성에 대한 영화예술인의 해부다. 한국 재난을 소재로 한 영화는 사람과 사회 자연의 갈등과 갈 등을 잘 보여준다. 이 글은 한국 재난 영화의 호황에 대해 깊이 있게 탐구하였다. 구체적인 사례 분석을 통해 한국 재난 장르 영화 연구의 몇 가지 틀에 박힌 이론을 요약하고 한국 재난 소재 영화의 형성과 발 전을 체계적으로 정리했다. 서사 내용과 예술 수용, 표현 수단의 세 가지 관점에서 한국 재난 영화의 심 미적 가치를 분석하는 데 중점을 두고 있다.

Integrating the resources of Korean disaster management research via the Johari window

It is not widely known that quite a few researchers are faced with difficulties in using various resources of disaster management research in Korea. The article aims to assess how rigorously the Korean field of disaster management research resources has been managed or how it can be improved for the ultimate goal of disaster management. Descriptive content analysis has been used as the major methodology by referring to the Johari window. In doing so, electronic research resources have been systematically compared with integrated research resources via the perspective of Korean-speaking researchers and that of English-speaking researchers. The conclusion is that two researchers have to be integrated with all four research resources (open, blind, hidden, and unknown resources) by implementing assigned responsibilities as well as freely asking questions. Ultimately, this will be conducive to reducing down the impacts of disaster in Korea.

Disaster management and land administration in South Korea: Earthquakes and the real estate market

In South Korea it was widely accepted that the Korean peninsula was safe from earthquakes. However, powerful earthquakes occurred in Gyeongju in 2016 with a magnitude of 5.8 and in Pohangin 2017 with a magnitude of 5.4. This highlighted the importance of disaster management. Earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand and Haiti have highlighted the fact that land administration seems to be interrelated with disaster management, especially relating to earthquakes. Therefore, this study reviews the relationship between disaster management and land administration conceptually and analyses South Korean disaster management in terms of that relationship, focusing particularly on earthquakes. Conceptually, the four elements of disaster management – mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery – are closely linked to the five elements of land administration, which are country context, land policy framework, land administration functions, land information infrastructure and sustainable development. Land administration contributes to disaster management in South Korea through measures such as the provision of earthquake-proofing information, tax cuts and conducting cadastral surveys. In the process of the study, the real estate market and the danger zone are discussed in terms of land tenure, value, use and development. In addition, the South Korean case is analysed from the perspective of modern history.

Development of Korean Disaster Mental Health Support Guidelines: Results of a Scoping Review and a Delphi Survey.

ObjectiveIt is necessary to develop new guidelines to delineate the best ways of providing psychosocial care to ensure mental health following a disaster. MethodsThis study applied the scoping review method as a means of establishing evidence-based guidelines for disaster mental health services. A total of 440 literatures were selected through a scoping review of 20,864 documents. Twenty-three recognized experts were invited to participate in the survey and a two-round online Delphi survey was conducted. ResultsThe concordance rate in the Delphi Round 1 was 95.1%. Six items were excluded and new items were formulated with experts’ suggestions. A total of 23 statements were slightly modified to clarify their meaning. In the Delphi Round 2, all items were met with consensus. The three items with the highest consensus among the experts were related to the protection of personal information and privacy. The item with the lowest consensus among experts was related to debriefing. Other items were related to establishing mental health support centers and suicide prevention activities. Conclusion140 items were developed through scoping reviews based on evidence-based methodology. These items were used to describe the disaster mental health support identified in Delphi. The guideline will provide a foundation for effective preparation and response in disaster situations.

한국 재난영화의 탄생과 국가적 트라우마의 반복 : 위기영화로서의 〈해운대〉의 판타지 분석

한국 재난영화의 탄생을 알린 영화 〈해운대〉(2009)는 2004년 인도네시아 쓰나미에서 영감을 얻어 제작되고 2008년 글로벌 금융위기 직후에 개봉되었다. 그 때문에 〈해운대〉는 1997년 외환위기에 의한 국가적 트라우마를 반복함으로써 외환위기 및 뒤이은 신자유주의화 과정에서 한국인들이 겪은 고통과 좌절, 불안을 의미화하고 통어하려는 판타지로 읽힐 수 있는 의미론적 공간을 연다. 이런 견지에서 볼 때 〈해운대〉는 1970년대 할리우드 재난영화 사이클처럼 위기 영화로 간주될 수 있다. 〈해운대〉가 묘사하는 재난 쓰나미는 라캉 정신분석학의 의미에서 불가능한 향유에 몸체를 부여하는 매혹적인 이미지로서 실재계를 상상적으로 객관화하는 숭고한 형상이다. 〈해운대〉에서 이 쓰나미는 부권적 초자아의 작인으로서 기능하며 한국남성 주체들에게 부권을 회복하고 성관계를 완성하라는 아버지-향유의 명령을 물질화한다. 그럼에도 불구하고 〈해운대〉의 판타지와 그것이 함축하는 정치사회학은 아버지의 법과 권위를 복구하고 주체들의 공적 세계를 구축하는 데 성공하지 못하는 듯 보인다.

Difficulties faced by Korean disaster relief workers while providing humanitarian aid: A descriptive study.

The aim of the present study was to identify difficulties experienced by Korean disaster relief workers during humanitarian aid deployment. A convenience sample of disaster relief workers aged >18 years, who had been dispatched to an overseas disaster site, were recruited; 107 relief workers completed the Humanitarian Aid Difficulty Scale that consists of 23 items comprising five factors. The average difficulty rating was 2.64 on a five point scale. By item, participants gave the highest scores for bathroom use and the lowest scores for cooperation among team members. By factor, infrastructure was rated as the greatest difficulty, followed by health conditions, goods and equipment, culture and customs, and cooperation. Considering sociodemographic characteristics, there were significant age differences in the culture and customs factor, as well as significant occupation differences in the cooperation, culture and customs, and goods and equipment factors. These findings highlight the need to improve the welfare of workers. It is recommended that further research be conducted according to occupation and with repeated measurement prior to, in the middle of, and after deployment of relief workers.