KJC Korea
Journal Central

The recent disaster events in South Korea, such as Busan and Gokseong, generated large damage despite disaster warning. This study aimed to determine the configuration factors of disaster warning which influence disaster prevention behavior. Eight factors were empirically derived as core components of disaster warning, such as professionalism, consistency, timeliness, usefulness, accuracy, accessibility, continuity and diversity. The statistical model was developed for controllability as the dependent variable and risk perception as a mediating parameter, using the survey data from 331 respondents who received a warning message within the past year. The findings are as follows: First, consistency, accessibility and continuity were found as a statistically significant factor influencing controllability. Second, professionalism and accuracy influenced only on risk perception but not on controllability. Third, timeliness, usefulness and diversity failed to affect controllability or risk perception. Fourth, it is found that both risk perception and controllability influenced disaster prevention behavior. The findings of this study would contribute to effective design of disaster warning systems.

This study aims to explore the required competencies of emergency preparedness officials in government when performing non-military duties for emergency preparedness, based on the perception of retired military officers selected by the Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Through the behavioral event interview (BEI) with high-performing government officials working on emergency preparedness, the list of competencies for non-military duties was developed and compared with those required for professional soldiers’ military duties for emergency preparedness. With the competencies included in the military selection test by the Korean Institute for Defense Analyses as a control group, the difference in competencies was tested between the two professions. Among a total of 27 competencies, it is found that 5 common competencies (including self-image management) and 2 job competencies (including utilization of supreme leadership and PR ability) are the unique competencies among government officials for emergency preparedness.

Impact forecasting has been applied to estimate flood damage in many different countries based on accurate weather forecasts. This study develops a model forecasting the impact of rainfall on riverside flood risks in the Busan Metropolitan City. The rainfall impact forecasting equations were obtained on a 1km x 1km grid with respect to water levels and critical rainfall thresholds. Critical rainfall was determined based on the end point of river and the discharge-water level relationship between design flood discharge and design flood level by analyzing water-rainfall in 3-hour critical rainfall. Model verification was performed using a heavy rain event with a total of 283.3 mm from July 22 to 24, 2020. According to the rainfall impact forecasting, 60 to 70% of the design flood level (“MEDIUM” alert) was issued on rivers between 10-11pm on July 23. In the rivers where the rainfall impact alert was issued, actual damages were found such as flooded roads and floodplain, which confirmed the appropriateness of the model. The high model accuracy was also validated by comparing the alert standard for water level with forecasted rainfall impact at the water level station in Suyeong River.