KT joins first READY Korea wildfire drill in Chilgok, tests telecom response
In short
KT took part in the government-led READY Korea wildfire response drill in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and checked its communications support and network recovery systems, the company said on Oct. 5. KT, the operator of the national disaster safety communications network, said it simulated damage to telecom facilities, ran emergency contacts and deployed mobile base stations while providing emergency communications to residents. Newsis reported the exercise was the first READY Korea drill held in Gyeongsangbuk-do and covered response to strong winds and nighttime wildfires.
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KT said on Oct. 5 that it took part in the 2026 READY Korea integrated wildfire response drill held in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and checked its communications support system and network recovery capability for a large wildfire scenario. The drill was organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. KT said it was the only telecom carrier taking part, a claim made in its own announcement. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
In the exercise, KT, which operates the national disaster safety communications network, assumed a large wildfire had damaged communications facilities. It said it activated its emergency contact network, quickly identified whether there were outages and their scope, and shared the situation in real time between its headquarters and the site while working with group companies and partners. KT said it ran disaster safety network mobile base station vehicles and commercial network mobile base station vehicles at the same time, keeping disaster safety network quality for on-site responding agencies and providing emergency communications to residents in affected areas while attempting to restore service. [ 2 , 3 ]
KT said it would keep strengthening its network response capability together with related agencies so that damage is minimized in real disasters. Hwang Kyung-hee, head of KT's Network Division Eastern NW Operations, said that “swift on-site response and strong recovery capability are more important than anything else” for providing stable communications in a disaster, and that KT would continue to strengthen its network response capability based on close cooperation with related agencies so that the public faces no inconvenience in using communications during disasters, according to the two reports. [ 2 , 3 ]
Newsis reported the exercise was the first READY Korea drill held in Gyeongsangbuk-do and that it checked response to strong winds and nighttime wildfires. READY Korea is a pan-government disaster preparedness drill involving central ministries, local governments, fire and forest authorities and private companies, according to KT's announcement. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The drill brought central ministries, local governments, fire and forest authorities and private companies together to rehearse a large autumn wildfire response, a scenario in which communications for responding agencies and residents can be disrupted. KT is the operator of the disaster safety communications network, so the exercise test of its emergency and restoration procedures is a check on the communications side of that response. The documents give no figures for the scale of the drill or its results.
Key facts
- The Ministry of the Interior and Safety organized the 2026 READY Korea integrated wildfire response drill in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- KT took part in the drill and was the only telecom carrier participating, according to KT. [ 2 ]
- KT operates the national disaster safety communications network (재난안전통신망). [ 2 , 3 ]
- The exercise was based on a scenario of a large wildfire causing damage to communications facilities. [ 2 , 3 ]
- KT operated disaster safety network mobile base station vehicles and commercial network mobile base station vehicles at the same time. [ 2 , 3 ]
- KT said it provided emergency communications to residents in affected areas and tried to restore communications service. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Newsis reported the drill was the first READY Korea exercise in Gyeongsangbuk-do and that it checked response to strong winds and nighttime wildfires. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The READY Korea wildfire response drill was held in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- KT participated in the drill and checked its communication support system and network recovery capability for a large wildfire scenario. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- KT is the operator of the disaster safety communications network. [ 2 , 3 ]
- READY Korea is a pan-government disaster preparedness drill involving central ministries, local governments, fire and forest authorities and private companies. [ 2 , 4 ]
- KT said it ran its emergency contact network, shared the situation in real time between its headquarters and the site and worked with group companies and partners. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The date on which the drill was held. Documents say only that the drill took place in Chilgok and that KT announced its participation on Oct. 5; no drill date is given.
- KT's statement that it was the only telecom company taking part. The claim appears only in KT's announcement as carried by one outlet and is not confirmed by another document.
- The scale of the drill, including participating units and personnel. No document gives figures.
- Whether this was the first READY Korea drill held in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Stated in one outlet's headline only; no other document repeats or confirms it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis reports the first READY Korea drill in Gyeongsangbuk-do, covering strong-wind and nighttime wildfire response. [ 1 ]
- KT says it joined the government-run integrated wildfire drill in Chilgok as the only telecom carrier and checked its communications response system. [ 2 ]
- ZDNet Korea reports KT checked its communications support systems and network recovery capability at the Chilgok drill. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports KT's participation in the 2026 READY Korea wildfire drill and its checks on disaster communications. [ 4 ]