Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean government is taking proactive steps to enhance disaster preparedness by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and data technologies to better address extreme weather events.

On November 28th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety convened the "2024 Second Half Joint Utilization Council for Disaster Safety Information" led by Lee Han-gyeong, the head of the National Disaster Management Headquarters. This council, established in 2020, brings together government agencies and private experts to foster collaboration and promote the sharing of disaster safety information.

During the meeting, participants discussed ongoing AI and data-driven initiatives and explored opportunities for interagency cooperation. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety shared plans to develop an AI-based intelligent surveillance system for local governments, aimed at enhancing CCTV monitoring capabilities and reducing the frequency of duplicate disaster alerts.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and ICT highlighted the real-time navigation service that provides flood warnings for roads and underpasses, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Environment launched in July. The Korea Meteorological Administration presented its efforts to strengthen the dissemination of weather information during extreme weather events, including the development of a direct notification system for heavy rain disasters.

Lee Han-gyeong, head of the National Disaster Management Headquarters, emphasized the importance of AI and data-driven technologies in enhancing disaster response capabilities. "To protect the lives and property of our citizens from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, we will continue to work with relevant agencies to strengthen our disaster response capabilities through the application of AI and data technologies," he said.