S. Korea to Conduct Nationwide Civil Defense Drill Thursday Afternoon

Seoul, on August 19, received news from the interior ministry about an upcoming nationwide civil defense drill scheduled for Thursday. The drill, set to last 20 minutes starting at 2 p.m., will simulate an enemy air raid, according to the ministry. The sequence of events will unfold as follows: first, an air raid warning, then a preliminary warning, and finally an all-clear signal.

Upon hearing the siren at precisely 2 p.m., individuals are expected to seek refuge in the nearest civil defense shelters or a nearby underground area. At 2:15 p.m., during the preliminary warning phase, the drill will allow participants to leave the shelters and move around, but they must remain vigilant. The drill will conclude at 2:20 p.m., once the warning has been lifted.

Civil defense shelters are located at around 17,000 sites across the nation, including underground parking lots in apartment complexes, subway stations, and underground shopping malls. Major facilities like hospitals, subways, railways, aircraft, and ships will continue their operations as usual during the drill to minimize any public inconvenience.

To aid foreign residents, the Emergency Ready App offers information on the drill schedule and shelter locations in 22 languages, including English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese.