Korea East-West Power holds wildfire disaster drill with 19 agencies at Ulsan plant
In short
Korea East-West Power (한국동서발전) held its 2026 disaster response drill at its Ulsan Power Division (울산발전본부), with 19 agencies and more than 200 people taking part. The company said on 22 October that the scenario began with a spreading wildfire that damaged a transmission line and halted power equipment.
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Korea East-West Power (한국동서발전) said on 22 October that it had held its '2026 disaster response Safe Korea drill' at its Ulsan Power Division (울산발전본부). The company said the aim was to check cooperation among related agencies and on-site response ability when a disaster occurs. Maeil Business reported that the drill took place at 2 pm on 21 October, and a Newsis photo caption also dates it to 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the company, 19 agencies and about 200 or more people took part, including the Nam-gu district office, Nambu fire station, Nambu police station and Nam-gu health centre in Ulsan. The company said the response began with the plant's own fire brigade, followed by the mobilisation of disaster management resources and rescue activities, and said this showed rapid and accurate response ability. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The scenario started with a nearby wildfire spreading, which damaged a transmission line and stopped power generation equipment. It then assumed a chain of disasters during recovery: an equipment fire, a hazardous chemical leak and casualties. Yonhap and Newsis said the drill was set up to prepare for disasters that are becoming more complex and larger because of climate change, and to check joint response systems and response ability across the whole process of handling a disaster. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The company said it used Internet of Things (IoT) technology, including a walking robot for situations too dangerous for people to approach. Six members of a public experience group, recruited in advance from various age groups, took part at the site and learned citizen action guidelines for each type of disaster. Yonhap and Newsis added that they also gave opinions on the drill. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
President Kwon Myung-ho (권명호) said, according to Yonhap and Newsis, that disasters occur in various forms that are hard to predict, so repeated training based on real situations and close cooperation among agencies are most important. He said the company would strengthen its field-centred disaster response system and capabilities to keep public trust. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The company said the drill was meant to check cooperation among agencies and on-site response ability for complex disasters. The documents give no results or findings from the exercise.
Key facts
- Korea East-West Power said on 22 October it had held its '2026 disaster response Safe Korea drill' at its Ulsan Power Division. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 19 agencies and about 200 or more people took part, including the Nam-gu district office, Nambu fire station, Nambu police station and Nam-gu health centre. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The scenario started with a nearby wildfire spreading, damaging a transmission line and stopping power generation equipment, followed by equipment fire, a hazardous chemical leak and casualties during recovery. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A walking robot was used in a hazardous situation that people could not easily approach, as part of the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Six members of a public experience group, recruited in advance from various age groups, took part and learned citizen action guidelines for each type of disaster. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The drill was held on 21 October, according to Maeil Business and a Newsis photo caption. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Korea East-West Power held the drill at its Ulsan Power Division, with 19 agencies and about 200 or more participants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The scenario combined a wildfire, transmission line damage, a power equipment shutdown, equipment fire, a hazardous chemical leak and casualties. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A walking robot and IoT technology were used, and six public experience group members took part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- President Kwon Myung-ho (권명호) said the company would strengthen its field-centred disaster response system and capabilities to keep public trust. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The drill took place on 21 October. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The start time of the drill. Only Maeil Business gives a time (2 pm on 21 October); the other documents give no time.
- The outcome of the drill. The company's statements say it showed rapid and accurate response ability, but no document reports an independent assessment or specific findings.