South Korea raises disaster alert level to 'alert' amid wildfires and deploys support team

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 28th that it has raised the broadcast and communication disaster alert to "caution" and will operate a field support team in areas affected by wildfires.

On the previous day at 10 p.m., the Ministry of Science and ICT elevated the broadcast and communication disaster alert from the "caution" level to "alert." The alert levels are raised in the following order: "attention," "caution," "alert," and "severe."

The field support team consists of a total of 8 members, including one Director, and will operate separately as a situation management team and a support information team. The situation management team will assess the damage status of communication, paid broadcasting, and radio facilities and cooperate with operators to assist in recovery on-site.

The support information team will provide information on support measures such as discounts on mobile communication, landline, internet phone, and paid broadcasting services at the Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam Central Joint Support Centers, as well as discounts on radio station usage fees.

Kang Do-hyun, Deputy Minister and head of the Broadcasting and Communication Disaster Response Headquarters, explained, "We plan to operate the field support team until the wildfires are extinguished and the damage is addressed."