From K-Pop to K-Preparedness: Korea confronts disaster reduction

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a recent effort by the South Korean Government to stimulate a domestic disaster risk reduction (DRR) technology industry for the export market. The project is a novel form of public-private partnership (PPP) that simultaneously fulfills the mandates of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction while promoting Korea’s economic development agenda. Design/methodology/approach The research is primarily a review study of the Global DRR Technology project as it is situated in the literature of PPP research from both the public administration and disaster management disciplines. Findings Korea’s approach to address DRR through a PPP targeting the needs of East Asian countries is unique. The overall effectiveness of the effort will take time to assess, but the model is an interesting and potentially fruitful mean of advancing DRR technology dissemination. Practical implications Korea may position itself as a global leader of DRR technology through this effort in terms of both market share and support of the Sendai Framework’s objectives. If successful, the PPP approach may be adopted as a viable means of improving DRR for other countries. Social implications Using PPPs for various aspects of DRR can be win-win situation for economic development and disaster management outcomes. Originality/value This paper presents a distinct application of the PPP model for DRR that other countries may appreciate and/or adopt for their own DRR needs.

Social network analysis of the Korean disaster-safety industry

“…To put it bluntly, the rationale behind the emergence of the disaster-safety industry in Korea (the only one of its kind in the world) can be grasped by considering the legacy of the developmental state in orchestrating and nurturing the market in Korea. To put it differently, the way in which Korea achieved rapid growth through aggressive industrial policies by the authoritarian regime (Chang, 1993;Oliver Kasdan and Kim, 2017;Toussaint, 2006), powerful bureaucracy and direct support of Chaebols seems to have been used to nurture the disaster-safety industry as well. In short, the emergence and use of the term "disaster-safety industry" can be understood as a legacy of strong governmental intervention in the domestic market.…”

“…Korea's disaster-safety ministries (at first MOPAS, then MOSPA and now MPSS) wanted to foster new industries that fit their policy orientation. It can be interpreted that the developmental state principle (Oliver Kasdan and Kim, 2017;Toussaint, 2006;Chang, 1993) has been applied to disaster and safety management as a government-led economic growth policy.…”

“…Korea's traditional developmental state strategy is government-led; it designates and nurtures large-scale industrial sectors such as the heavy chemicals industry. To this end, it has been striving to foster industry by supporting large corporations (Chang, 1993;Oliver Kasdan and Kim, 2017;Toussaint, 2006). However, the current disaster-safety industry, as seen through the network analysis, does not seem to fit this strategy.…”

“…Oh (2016) stressed the need for research on how to increase the participation of private companies in disaster-safety management at the national level. Oliver Kasdan and Kim (2017) examined how the concept of PPP has been translated into practice in the field of DRM in Korea. The Korean Government is now making an effort to advance the level of DRR technology in an attempt to pioneer an export market.…”