Full story
Drills Across South Korea
South Korea held a 20-minute nationwide drill simulating an air raid, with alarms blaring as the exercise coincided with this week’s joint military exercises with the US.
“South Korea has held a 20-minute nationwide drill simulating an air raid”
Al Jazeera said the joint exercises were shortened by President Trump just hours before they began, while the drill itself was timed to the air-raid warning sequence.
The Korea Times reported the interior ministry said the nationwide drill would take place across the country for 20 minutes starting at 2 p.m. Thursday, proceeding in the order of an air raid warning, a preliminary warning and an all-clear.
The Korea Times added that when the air raid siren sounds at exactly 2 p.m., people must evacuate to the nearest civil defense shelters or a nearby underground space, and that the drill would end when the warning is lifted at 2:20 p.m.
Shelters, Timed Warnings
The Korea Times said civil defense shelters have been designated at approximately 17,000 locations nationwide, including underground parking lots at apartment complexes, subway stations and underground shopping malls.
It also said major facilities, such as hospitals, subways, railways, aircraft and ships, will operate normally even during the drill, while foreigners can receive information on the drill schedule and shelter locations in 22 languages through the Emergency Ready App.
In Gyeonggi Province, 아시아경제 reported the '2026 Air Raid Preparedness Civil Defense Drill' was conducted across the province on the 20th from 2:00 PM for 20 minutes.
That same report said Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae moved to the evacuation area on the second basement floor with provincial office staff when the air raid warning sounded, and that administrative offices and public institutions in all 31 cities and counties also conducted evacuation drills.
Scale and Preparedness
아시아경제 said the drill involved 2,799 shelters across the province, with 6,949 people participating, including 6,056 civil defense leaders and members and 893 volunteers.
“At 2,799 shelters across the province, a total of 6,949 people”
It also described emergency vehicle passage training on 36 major road sections in the 31 cities and counties, with fire trucks and ambulances operating on actual roads under supervision of the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters.
The Korea Times said the drill will proceed in the order of an air raid warning, a preliminary warning and an all-clear, with people able to leave shelters after the preliminary warning at 2:15 p.m. but required to remain alert.
Cho Kwanggeun, Emergency Planning Officer of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Civil defense drills are meaningful as they help every resident become familiar with evacuation methods to ensure their own safety in a real emergency," and added, "We will continue to enhance our response capabilities through practical drills".