1. Study Objectives and Method

❚ Research background and goals

￮ While climate change is magnifying natural disasters, cutting-edge technologies and devices are rapidly changing lifestyle patterns and promoting large-scale cultural and sports events, potentially leading to new types of disasters and massive casualties.

￮ Despite the government’s initiative to reinforce its safety policies against the increasing risks of catastrophic accidents, Jeonbuk State has made little progress with its plans to ensure residents’ safety through effective disaster management measures. Thus, it is critical that Jeonbuk establish a disaster management research center and develop relevant roadmaps to improve the quality of safety services and strengthen proactive disaster preparedness. 

￮ We present the following action plans to achieve a higher level of safety in the region: raise residents’ awareness of disaster safety, collect and analyze the region’s safety-related statistics, develop strategies to establish and operate a disaster management research center to produce wide-ranging disaster safety measures, and create mid- and long-term development roadmaps. 

❚ Potential benefits of research

￮ We aim to ensure the validity of establishing and operating the proposed disaster management research center and develop effective action plans, thereby contributing to reinforcing  Jeonbuk’s proactive  disaster preparedness and disaster management and relief systems.

￮ This prospective center will focus on data collection and analysis and the provision of such data to the Jeonbuk government and its residents in a timely manner, which is integral for facilitating the local government’s tasks of ensuring disaster prevention and preparedness, raising the residents’ awareness of disaster risks, and ultimately minimizing disaster damage. 

❚ Practical applications of research findings

￮ The findings of this research can be used as source data to support the necessity and validity of establishing a disaster management research center in Jeonbuk and as basic data that underlies the center’s organizational structure and budget planning.

 2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion

❚  Action plans for establishment and operation of proposed disaster management research center in Jeonbuk

￮ It is imperative that a metropolitan government-level disaster management research center be established and operated to effectively navigate national policies, provincial evaluation, and the rise in the number of disastrous events in Jeonbuk State.

￮ Establishing the proposed center is a well-timed policy decision, given the climate crisis and the increasing occurrence of new types of social disasters. However, it must be preceded by a thorough review of the operating budget, management plans, and dedicated personnel required to expand functions and expertise. 

￮ This study analyzed every aspect of establishing, operating, and developing the proposed center from multiple angles and presented in the main text the appropriate action plans that focus on the following strategies.

￮ First, when selecting an entrusted institution for the center, the region’s research institutes specializing in disaster-related policy research and business support should be given priority. Moreover, a screening committee must be organized to conduct an objective evaluation based on the selection criteria suggested in the main text. 

￮ Second, the budget for the center’s establishment and operation should be sufficient to secure a minimum number of personnel with expertise in disaster management and promote the center’s policy research and projects on a continuous basis. Notably, the center’s budget must be managed independently and effectively by operating the center through public trusts rather than through donations and private subsidies. 

￮ Third, the following five core values must be reflected in the center’s operation for sustainable development: institutional autonomy and independence, operational continuity and stability, business expertise and efficiency, reliability and validity of outcomes, and publicness and innovativeness of projects. These values can also be employed as the evaluation indicators of the center’s operational performance.

￮ Last, it is crucial to institutionalize the basis of the center’s establishment and its key operational principles by incorporating them into relevant ordinances, thus clearly defining the center’s functions and businesses and elevating its status. This will further facilitate the center’s role not only as an administrative body but also as a dedicated disaster management research organization representing Jeonbuk State

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