The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a 40-day legislative preview period for the ‘Social Disaster Response Act’ from the 19th to January 28 next year. The act aims to systematize the entire process of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from social disasters.
The proposed legislation mandates the formulation and implementation of special preventive measures for areas and facilities with high disaster risks. These include aging industrial complexes, densely populated slum areas, border regions, and facilities used by vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and children. The Minister of the Interior and Safety will formulate the measures, which local governments must then implement.
In the event of a social disaster, local governments and agencies such as police, maritime police, and fire departments can order the suspension of events or dispersal of crowds if there is a risk to human life. A crisis monitoring system will also be established to enable rapid responses based on disaster type, and pre-emptive measures will be taken for recurring disasters during specific periods such as spring wildfires or year-end crowds.
Provisions previously under the ‘Basic Act on Disaster and Safety Management’ that applied only to social disasters will be transferred to this new law. The authority to designate specific management target areas, previously held by central and local government heads, will now be centralized under the Minister of the Interior and Safety. Additionally, a designation system for key multi-use facilities will be introduced, and private organizers of local festivals must submit safety management plans to local authorities.