Disaster Warnings to be Informed to Your Cell Phones

Starting next month, if one carries a cellular phone, it will be possible to be informed immediately about what disaster, such as earthquakes and tidal waves, have occurred all around the country.

In addition, if an emergency occurs, the system of disaster alarm broadcasting will be changed into one of alarm sounds with warnings displayed on the upper portion of the TV, unlike the previous system which was broadcasted only with text on the lower portion of the TV.

The National Emergency Management Agency stated on April 4, “In order to deliver disaster alarms more rapidly, it will expand the ‘Cell Broadcast System (CBS),’ which has been demonstrated in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Gyeongsang, and Ulsan, nationwide.”

The CBS is an up-to-date technology, through which we can convey information to cellular phone users through the short message service (SMS) simultaneously in a certain area. As of this April, the total number of cellular phone’s subscriber nationwide is 18.50 million.

Furthermore, starting April 11, the National Emergency Management Agency is planning to set up a website, “Safe Korea” (www.safekorea.go.kr), for prevention of disasters as well as public relations in cyberspace, which provides emergency information to anyone who wants the information at a convenient time and place.

Jong-Dae Ha orionha@donga.com