In May of this year, there was an incident at Chung-Ang University (CAU)'s Seoul campus, specifically at the 203 Building rooftop, where a fire broke out. During the incident, thick black smoke emanated from the rooftop, and several fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. Many students in the building ran about in confusion, and there were even students who, seemingly unaware of the danger, entered the building. Furthermore, despite the university have designated smoking areas throughout the campus, indiscriminate smoking continues to be a persistent issue, posing an ongoing fire hazard. However, is CAU providing education for students to respond safely in the event of various disasters, including fires? In this article, CAH aims to explore the shortcomings of CAU disaster response system and potential avenues for improvement.

The Disaster Response System of CAU

The Current Disaster Response System

Currently, in order to create a safe learning environment, all universities in Korea are obligated to conduct annual disaster preparedness training for students under Article 35 of the Framework Act on The Management of Disasters and Safety. CAU also conducts a training program for dealing with the emergency. Furthermore, the university organizes fire drills and various disaster preparedness exercises approximately once per semester for students residing in dormitories. CAU has established specific manuals for different disaster scenarios. These manuals are based on the comprehensive safety management manual administered by the CAU Safety Management Information Center. They encompass detailed guidelines tailored to various situations, including fires, earthquakes, laboratory safety incidents, etc. Each scenario's manual emphasizes initial evacuation procedures and response strategies, using illustrative diagrams as aids.

Problems in the Disaster Response System

The most significant issue can be attributed to the fact that, despite the existence of detailed disaster preparedness manuals, many students and professors at CAU are largely unaware of the existence of the campus's disaster response manual. Furthermore, upon examining the daily routines of students, it becomes evident that the management of disaster preparedness is somewhat lacking. While the university has placed evacuation maps in the hallways of campus buildings, indicating the students’ current location as well as the positions of emergency staircases and fire extinguishers. However, they have not specifically outlined evacuation routes leading outside of the buildings once students have followed these evacuation maps. In the case of the 203 Building fire incident mentioned earlier, the fire alarm at the time sounded only on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors of the building, while classes continued on the 8th floor, creating a dangerous situation; and many students even became aware of the fire through notifications on the Everytime app before the alarms rang. Additionally, despite the annual safety training program being theoretically spread over a total of 5 days as part of a nationwide program, it is challenging to observe all students on campus actively participating in the training. Since disaster situations do not occur only to certain people, there are many criticisms that it is a superficial evacuation training. This is especially concerning for freshmen who may not yet be familiar with the campus' layout. Without systematic education on how to respond in disaster situations, they may be left vulnerable to potential harm.

Survey on Chung-Ang University Students

1. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a disaster situation (such as a fire, flood, elevator breakdown, etc.) while attending CAU?

(1) Yes (2) No

2. Are you familiar with or have you heard of CAU’s current disaster response system or manuals?

(1) I am well aware of it. (2) I have heard of it. (3) I am not very familiar with it.

3. Have you participated in CAU’s disaster evacuation training?

(1) Yes (Go to Question 4) (2) No (Go to Question 3-1)

3-1. If you haven't participated in disaster evacuation training, what is the reason? (Multiple choices possible)

(1) Scheduling conflicts with the training sessions (2) Lack of awareness regarding the evacuation training (3) Other

4. Do you believe that CAU is actively striving to create a safe campus environment by preparing for disaster situations?

(1) Very much. (2) Yes. (3) Somewhat. (4) No. (5) Not at all.

5. How do you think CAU should implement disaster preparedness for students? (Multiple choices possible)

(1) Mandatory regular disaster preparedness education for students. (2) Periodic publication of disaster preparedness manuals. (3) Additional installation of campus evacuation signs. (4) Other

In a survey conducted among CAU students, it was found that a significant number (57.1%) of students have experienced or witnessed a disaster situation or similar events while attending the university. However, in contrast, the number of students who are aware of, or have participated in, disaster response training is extremely low. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the majority of students (92.3%) who did not participate in training cited a lack of awareness regarding the training itself as the primary reason. These findings emphasize the need for CAU to actively promote disaster evacuation training among its students. Furthermore, the survey revealed that a substantial portion of students feel that the level of safety they experience on campus is inadequate. This suggests that CAU should take various measures to create a safer learning environment for its students.

Examples of Disaster Response Systems in Other Universities

Kyung Hee University (KHU) is committed to providing safety education tailored to various situations to ensure that all students on campus can respond effectively in disaster situations. Laboratories conducting experiments and practical work with hazardous chemicals require special attention. Therefore, KHU conducts the 'Lab Clean Day' at least once a year. Through regular maintenance tasks such as disposing of expired reagents, the university strives to create a pleasant and safe research environment for all campus members. Furthermore, as part of the ‘Safety by Citizen’ training program conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kyung Hee University, Sang Myung University, and Sejong University offer safety-related general education courses. These courses are designed to provide practical education that equips students with the skills to effectively handle crises, contributing to a safer campus and community.

Currently, CAU has a student population of approximately 25,000 individuals. As a university campus that serves as the living space for many students, it bears the responsibility of constantly fostering a safe environment. Moreover, since disaster situations can strike without warning, the school underscores the significance of everyday evacuation education within the university community. However, CAU appears to lack a sense of urgency in disaster preparedness and proactive promotion of evacuation systems. Through this article, CAH has examined the university's disaster response system, identified its shortcomings, and explored examples from other domestic universities. Based on this awareness, CAU should strive to continually evolve and improve its preparedness efforts for various disaster situations.