Until recently, Korea was considered relatively safe from earthquakes. However, researchers have raised concerns about the potential of devastating earthquakes in populated areas, including Seoul, following seven earthquakes with magnitudes of five or higher on the Korean Peninsula between 2000 and 2023.
According to 2016 data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Seoul could result in about 2.8 million casualties and cause damages worth 2,848 trillion won ($2.5 trillion). Seoul is known for its densely populated urban environment, with a population of about 9.2 million.
During the drill, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake was simulated to strike the Sejong Arts Center and the surrounding city center. Approximately three dozen firefighters arrived at the disaster scene 14 minutes after the collapse. About a dozen police officers established a perimeter while firefighters entered the building to rescue the injured.
Firefighters escorted survivors to Gwanghwamun Square, which is relatively safe from earthquakes due to the limited number of high-rise buildings in the area.
"Although it is true that it can be challenging to respond to earthquakes because they are almost impossible to predict, we will work to build our response capabilities through repeated training," said Seoul Metropolitan Government's 2nd Vice Mayor Yoo Chang-soo.
