Policy Learning from the Experience of a Neighboring Country: Adaptation of Korean Earthquake Management System after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake

Abstract

This article reviews the adaptation of the Korean earthquake management system after the 1995 Kobe earthquake with special reference to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The Kobe earthquake was a turning point for the earthquake management system in Korea. From a theoretical point of view, social learning and policy diffusion, and adaptation of disaster management system occurred after the Japanese experience of 1995 Kobe earthquake. Section II reviews seismic activities and damages in Korea; Section III discusses reframing governance system for earthquake response in Korea; Section IV covers public policy initiatives for earthquake management in Korea; Section V introduces a preliminary assessment of Seoul Metropolitan Government's earthquake management system from an international standard, and finally Section VII summarizes and makes some recommendations.