Emergency relief shelters are an important part of disaster response and recovery. Some public buildings are designated as shelters across the island.
However they are either not properly managed or don't fulfil their purpose as the designation lacks clear standards.
Joseph Kim reports.

[Slug] Jeju Provincial Office of Education

This is the building of the Jeju Provincial Office of Education.
It is designated as an emergency shelter for its accessibility.

[Slug] Shelter signs are mandatory, but not easily spotted

According to relevant acts, signs should be placed near a shelter to disclose the exact location.
But it's hard to find them.

[Slug] Locked, Useless during emergency

After exploring the building, a shelter is spotted.
But the door is locked, rendering it useless during an emergency.


Natural disaster shelters have similar stories.

[Slug] Not equipped with needed items

They are not equipped with immediately needed facilities or items for affected households.

[Slug] Some are closed or neglected

Some of the shelters have been closed or neglected after being used for other purposes.
Most area residents are not aware of the presence of disaster relief shelters in their community.

INTERVIEW
Jo Yeon-suk / Resident, Ildo 1-dong, Jeju City
(Do you know where a disaster shelter is at?) No.
<인터뷰 : 조연숙 / 제주시 일도1동>
"(혹시 알고 계셨어요?) 몰라요."

INTERVIEW
Kim Cho-ja / Resident, Ildo 1-dong, Jeju City
Which building? Where is a shelter? (Beverly Hills building.) Huh?
<인터뷰 : 김초자 / 제주시 일도1동>
"어디가요? 대피소 어디예요? (비버리힐이요.) 응? "

INTERVIEW
An Seon-gyeong / Resident, Geonip-dong, Jeju City
Basement of the building? It's a parking lot. There is no space to stay even temporarily.
<인터뷰 :안선경 / 제주시 건입동>
"지하로 들어가라고? 거기 지하에? 지하에 주차장인데 어디로 들어가?"

Shelters in Jeju don't meet national standards, nor fulfil their own function as the designation is made without clear standards.

INTERVIEW
Park Chang-yeol / Researcher, Jeju
The island's shelter map shows that some islanders have to walk for more than 20 minutes if disaster strikes. Shelters need to be redesignated by considering the amount of time it takes to access shelters.
<인터뷰 : 박창열 / 제주연구원 책임연구원>
"현재 분포돼 있는 대피소 현황을 보면 위험지역에서 도보로 했을 때 20~30분, 좀 더 걸리는 지역도 있는 것으로 나타나고 있습니다. 그래서 이런 부분들은 대피시간을 충분히 고려를 해서 재지정하는 방안(이 필요합니다.)"

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Kim Yong-min