[Press Release] Commission Holds Policy Discussion on Strengthening the Effectiveness of Disaster Response Manuals in the Field

National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster
Press Release
July 31, 2026

Commission Holds Policy Discussion on Strengthening the Effectiveness of Disaster Response Manuals in the Field

Discussion focuses on measures to reform the national crisis management manual system to improve its effectiveness in the field.

The National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence (the “Commission”) will hold a policy discussion titled “Reforming the National Crisis Management Manual System to Improve Its Effectiveness in the Field” at 2:00 p.m. on July 31 in the 8th-floor auditorium of the Commission’s office.
* See attached materials for the discussion schedule and poster.

The policy discussion was organized as part of the Commission’s investigative tasks in safety society-related issues, with the aim of enhancing understanding of disaster response manuals and disaster response systems, while exploring measures to strengthen the effectiveness of disaster response manuals in the field.

Im Sang-Gyu, a research fellow (Ph.D. in Public Administration) at the National Disaster Management Research Institute, will deliver the keynote presentation on measures to reform the national crisis management manual system to improve its effectiveness in the field.

The presentation will specifically address (i) structural bottlenecks and dilemmas in Korea’s disaster management system; (ii) implications from the U.S. disaster management system, including ESF, ICS, and IAP; (iii) measures to establish the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s role as a coordinator.

Panelists will include (i) Kim Nam-Hee, mother of Shin Ae-Jin, a deceased victim of the October 29 Itaewon disaster; (ii) Min Jun-Seok, a disaster prevention and safety officer at the Disaster Response Coordination Division of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; (iii) Bang Ki-Sung, a non-standing commissioner of the Commission; and (iv) Professor Choi Sang-Ok of the Public Administration Department at Korea University.

The Commission will review the opinions and proposed improvements presented at today’s discussion, gather expert input, and use the findings in preparing its investigation results report and policy recommendations.

Chair Song Doo-Hwan will emphasize, “Disaster response manuals provide guidance on how to respond in the chaos of a disaster scene and serve as a common commitment that enables various agencies to cooperate toward the same goal,” adding, “Through this discussion, we will seek ways to improve the manuals so that they can function effectively in the field to protect lives and safety, and we will work to ensure that the ideas discussed are translated into concrete policies and institutional improvements.” //End//