Korea Expressway Corporation to hold Safe Korea Exercise on the 28th; traffic restricted between Geochang IC and Gajo IC

[Financial News] The Korea Expressway Corporation will conduct a compound-disaster response exercise near Salpijae Tunnel on the Gwangju–Daegu Expressway on the 28th. Traffic is scheduled to be restricted between Geochang IC and Gajo IC during the exercise, so highway users should take note.
According to the Korea Expressway Corporation on the 26th, the 2026 Disaster Response Safe Korea Exercise will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on the 28th, with 24 related agencies participating, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Western Regional Forest Service, Geochang County, fire services and police.
The exercise will simulate simultaneous road emergencies, including a wildfire, a tunnel fire and a multiple-vehicle pileup. The plan is to activate the disaster situation management system and disaster prevention facilities, verify initial response procedures and review each agency’s on-site response system.
The exercise will also identify resources that can be deployed in a compound disaster. It will review resource mobilization procedures using the National Disaster Resource Management System and check whether the personnel and equipment needed can be secured quickly.
The Korea Expressway Corporation said traffic restrictions during the exercise are expected to cause inconvenience, and asked highway users for their understanding and to drive safely.
A Korea Expressway Corporation official said, “For compound disasters such as wildfires and tunnel fires, the initial response determines the scale of the damage,” adding, “Through this exercise, we will thoroughly review and improve our on-site response system and do our utmost to create a safe highway environment.”
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter