03-21-2011 18:07
KMA Chief Cho Seok-joon
Weather agency chief proposes tripartite meteorological cooperation with Japan, China
By Park Si-soo
Korea will upgrade its emergency alert system to provide a better service for foreign residents by offering information in the event of a natural disaster in multiple languages through TV and other public information outlets, the head of the state weather agency said Monday.
This initiative was taken in response to the growing concerns about possible tremors here in the wake of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that devastated Japan two weeks ago.
With no system in place to offer information in foreign languages, experts here warned that non-Korean speaking foreign nationals will be left at risk in emergency situations.
“I will work hard to upgrade the warning system to the level at which all people in the country get access to necessary information in the event of a natural disaster regardless of their mother tongue,” said Cho Seok-joon, head of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), in a media briefing. “I will prioritize this very important task amid the growth of the foreign population here.”
It was his first press conference since taking office on Feb. 9.
The KMA plans to launch a call center, named “131 Weather Hot Line,” by 2013 in which interpreters will offer weather information in English. The center will launch a Korean-language service next year.
The KMA is also seeking cooperation with Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), the nation’s largest broadcaster, and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security to run emergency messages in multiple languages as well as in sign language on TV, radio and digital multimedia broadcasting in the case of a natural disaster occurring.
The weather agency is also considering using a text messaging service as a way to disseminate urgent information to mobile subscribers.
“This might become the sole way to deliver information should fixed lines for telephone or the Internet all become crippled by a disaster,” Cho said, adding he will discuss the issue with relevant organizations as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the KMA chief underscored the necessity of a partnership with China and Japan to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts.
“The impact of adverse weather conditions and nature’s destruction isn’t limited to a single country. Surrounding countries are affected as well,” he said.
Mt. Baekdu eruption
Cho said the latest quake in Japan will strengthen cooperation in weather forecasts and in devising countermeasures against earthquakes and climate change.
“By consolidating information from the three countries, we can produce more accurate weather forecasts as quickly as possible.”
He said he will push for a service in which three Northeast Asian nations ? South Korea, China and Japan ? jointly forecast weather and earthquakes in the region.
“If the three countries establish a joint service on weather and climate monitoring and forecasting, it will have a significant impact on society, economy and general industry,” Cho said.
He proposed the establishment of a website that provides integrated weather service on the three Asian nations with satellite images and radar data collected from each country as well as an advanced system combining weather and geographic information.
Cho also said the weather agency is willing to cooperate with North Korea to monitor for a possible eruption of Mt. Baekdu.
Regarding Pyongyang’s recent offer to conduct joint research on volcanic activity at the mountain, Cho said the weather agency will prepare the groundwork so that the two sides can work together without delay upon the government’s endorsement.
“We will also push for working with North Korea to proceed with the joint study and share information in the characteristics of earthquakes taking place on the Korean Peninsula and volcanic activities on Mt. Baekdu,” Cho said.
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