Drill involving civilians, military, police, coast guard, and firefighters under complex crisis scenarios that could actually occur
An Army soldier is seen operating a drone. Yonhap News
The Integrated Defense Headquarters (Joint Chiefs of Staff) announced on the 6th that it will conduct the “2026 Hwarang Training” to enhance integrated defense operations capabilities in times of peace and war within rear areas, and to establish a perfect integrated defense posture among civilians, military, police, coast guard, and firefighters.
This year’s training, discussed at the central integrated defense meeting held on March 23, will focus on mastering response procedures to various emergency scenarios, including drone attacks on vital national facilities such as energy infrastructure.
The training will begin in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region (from the 6th to the 10th) and will extend across six regions (Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Jeju, Busan-Ulsan, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Chungbuk) until November. Participants will include local governments, police, firefighters, and stakeholders from critical national facilities.
Hwarang Training, conducted under the Integrated Defense Law and hosted by the Integrated Defense Headquarters, is a regular training event held at the city and provincial level since 1977. It is aimed at mastering procedures for integrated defense operational plans, enhancing local residents’ security awareness, and confirming the integrated defense posture of civilians, military, police, coast guard, and firefighters.
This year, the training is designed to reflect regional characteristics, creating realistic complex crisis scenarios. The focus will be on training that includes participation from all elements of national defense, including civilians, military, police, coast guard, and firefighters.
Key training activities will include assessing the situation response and integrated capabilities of the integrated defense support headquarters, depicting and neutralizing actual terrorist situations, and conducting rapid recovery training in case of damage from complex crisis scenarios.
Jin Young-seung, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and head of the Integrated Defense Headquarters, stated, “Through this Hwarang Training, we will cement an organic cooperative system among regional integrated defense elements and establish a robust integrated defense posture capable of safely protecting the life and property of the people in any crisis situation.”