South Korea's recent nationwide air-raid drill, the first in six years, has been met with a lukewarm response from the public, even in the face of an impending satellite launch by North Korea, BBC reports.
The exercise took place on August 23 at 2 pm local time, during which vehicles were instructed to halt, and people were directed to evacuate to air raid shelters for a 20-minute duration. This drill is part of broader military exercises aimed at enhancing the country's readiness against a potential North Korean attack.
North Korea has announced plans to launch a rocket carrying a satellite, heightening tensions in the region. The annual drill, which used to be a customary event, served as a means to remind citizens of the steps to take in the event of an attack from North Korea.
As North Korea continues to build up its nuclear weaponry, the threat to South Korea has escalated. However, the local population, accustomed to the specter of war for decades, seems to be growing indifferent to the danger.
During the drill, police were seen stepping onto the streets to halt traffic, while public officials attempted to guide people into nearby subway stations. A visit by BBC News to a central Seoul station showed that merely a dozen individuals had gathered to seek shelter.
Kim Min-jun, a 24-year-old university student present at the station, commented, "This training is necessary because we are anxious about North Korea. It serves as a reminder to raise awareness." Choi Bo-geun, a 20-year-old who had sought shelter with a friend, expressed concern that such drills might provoke North Korea, especially given the concurrent joint military exercises with the United States.
However, above ground, many individuals continued their routines as usual. Yang Anna, who was in a coffee shop when the alarm sounded, stated, "I don't know where the shelter is, so I didn't go. I don't think a war is going to happen."
An 80-year-old named Park Hyung-joon echoed this sentiment, explaining that he recognized the drills as crucial for safeguarding citizens and the nation but chose not to seek shelter at that time.
Reports from local media indicate that around 17,000 locations, including apartment basements and subway stations, were designated as defense drill shelters in 2022.
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