Seoul runs multi-disaster drill at Mokdong stadium with 725 participants

Seoul city held the '2026 Seoul Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill' on 22 October at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon District, with Mayor Oh Se-hoon attending. Asia Economy reported the city said the drill began at 09:50. The scenario assumed an earthquake-caused ground subsidence followed by structural collapse, electric vehicle fires and other disasters in a chain, and focused on checking the integrated response system among agencies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

The drill was based on five recent disasters in Seoul: the Myeongil-dong ground subsidence, the Seosomun overpass demolition site accident, the Eunpyeong depot electric bus fire, the Sogong-dong guesthouse fire and the Seongbuk District underground utility conduit fire. These were recombined into one compound disaster to test the spread of information, command at the scene, rescue and emergency care, and restoration of urban infrastructure. Seoul city, Yangcheon District, fire, police and military units and the Korea Electric Power Corporation were among the 21 organisations and groups, with 725 participants and 76 vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Five zones were set up at the stadium. In the ground subsidence zone, a vehicle buried by a road collapse was recreated, ground-penetrating radar was used to survey the ground and lifting equipment was used to rescue the occupants. In the structural collapse zone, a collapsed temporary construction structure was assumed, and rescue dogs, search drones, four-legged robots and radio detectors were used to look for survivors in the debris. [ 1 , 2 ]

In the electric vehicle fire zone, a battery thermal runaway was recreated, reflecting the Eunpyeong depot electric bus fire. Responders used fire-smothering blankets to limit flames and a mobile water tank to cool the battery. In the foreign mass-casualty zone, based on the Sogong-dong guesthouse fire, pictogram cards, an AI translation app and interpreter support were used to assess foreign patients who had difficulty communicating in Korean and to give them emergency care. [ 1 , 2 ]

In the infrastructure zone, based on the Seongbuk District fire, the scenario assumed damage to communications facilities that halted card payments and telecom services. The city checked temporary payment support and an emergency network recovery system, aiming to minimise inconvenience to citizens and disruption to small businesses. [ 1 , 2 ]

At the same time, a discussion drill for activating the disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters was held in the video conference room at Seoul City Hall, covering information spread, a situation assessment meeting and the operation of 13 working teams. Yonhap and Newsis reported that Oh chaired the situation assessment meeting at the stadium and toured the five zones to check each agency's response and use of advanced rescue equipment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Oh said the drill was meant to check whether cooperation among agencies works in practice against a compound disaster, and to check support for victims beyond language and nationality and recovery of daily life. He said weaknesses found would be improved and reflected in the actual disaster response system, and that the city would complete a 'Seoul, special city of quality of life' to protect citizens' lives and daily life. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]