Journal of the Korean Geographical Society ISSN:1225-6633(Print) 대한지리학회지

Disaster is a challenge bestowed to mankind indiscriminate to time and location. It causes not only economic loss, but also fear and shock leading to irreparable human damage and the trauma that follows. The entire process of prevention, preparation, response, and recovery has improved to some extent due to the advancement of forecasting technology and the evolution of disaster management learned from experiences. The statistical approach focuses on the types of disaster and their figures and degrees of human, economic, and structural damage. However, this neglects the actual humanitarian support for the victims and their beloved ones which has been insufficient. Despite the paradigm of disaster management shifting to a humanitarian level for victims of large-scale natural disasters related to climate change, ship accidents, and terrorism, Korea has still experienced repeated disasters such as ‘the Sewol Ferry Disaster¹⁾’ followed by the ‘10.29. Itaewon Disaster’. In addition, disasters in large cities on Metropolitan Area have a much greater degree of economic and human damage. In the case of disasters centered on big cities, especially social disasters, the placeness is very important. Moreover, the steepness as a place remembered after disaster management and recovery is significant. After such a cataclysm, it is necessary to discuss the protection of victims' rights and human rights-centered disaster management. This paper seeks to suggest improvements in the basic principles of Korean disaster management based on various examples of the paradigm shift in disaster management.