Korea Institute of Registered Architects organized and launched ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group’ in 2019 May 16th to protect citizens’ safety with professional participation of Member Institute Architects. The organization is established after going through natural disasters such as 2016 Gyeongju, 2017 Pohang earthquakes and 2019 forest fire in Korea. After the outbreak of COVID19, the group suggested ideas about temporary facility utilization to Ministry of Land and Ministry of the Interior and Safety of Korea.

Establishment Background

Public alert and interest for building safety has increased due to the consecutive natural disasters occurred in Korea – Gyeongju, Pohang earth quake and Jecheon forest fire. ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group’ was established to protect citizens’ safety and to fulfill the role as experts and architects.

Aim and purpose

The aim and purpose of ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group’ are to support public immediately with safety relief voluntary works when disaster occurs. Usually the group operates as community service group, and when disaster occurs, it operates as a safety relief group. It intends to form and maintain systematic cooperation relationship with government branches and to utilize data for public safety legislation by accumulating disaster damage case studies, analysis, statistics.

Operation

KIRA Headquarter and chapters operate emergency contact(hot line). When disaster occurs, each chapter Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group Chair notifies the situation to the Central Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group Chair and put in the Site Investigation Team. Central Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group Chair reports the situation to KIRA president, and operates the emergency room. According to the disaster scale and damage, ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group’ members are sent step by step.

1^st step – Send KIRA each chapter ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group ‘ members

2^nd step – Send Central ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group ‘ members

3^rd step – Send National ‘Disaster & Safety Management Supporting Group’ members