Interior ministry sets 2026 Ulchi exercise for Aug. 18-21

The interior ministry said Thursday that the 2026 Ulchi Exercise will be held nationwide from Aug. 18 to 21, bringing government, military and local authorities together for emergency-readiness drills.

The 58th annual exercise is intended to establish a whole-of-nation emergency-readiness posture and help authorities respond to a changing security environment, the ministry said. It will test emergency plans and wartime task procedures during war, conflict or comparable national emergencies. About 4,000 institutions and 580,000 people are expected to take part.

Prime Minister Han Seong-suk chaired a preparation meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on Thursday attended by central government chiefs, city and provincial governors and military commanders. "Ulchi Exercise is the most important national crisis-management drill for reviewing emergency readiness and strengthening an integrated response system among government, military, local authorities and related agencies," Han said. "All institutions should take part with the understanding that it is a real situation and further improve their capacity to protect lives and safety."

To counter technology-based, complex security threats, the programme will include "one institution, one drill" scenarios involving damage to critical infrastructure, including power and energy facilities, airports, ports and roads. It will also hold a real-time cyber-defense drill coordinated by the National Intelligence Service and involving government, military and related agencies.

A vice prime minister will chair an Ulchi meeting of related ministers, while agency heads will personally lead live drills and participate in wartime task discussions and situation-response measures. The exercise will also test emergency call-ups of civil servants, formation of wartime organizations and integrated government-military responses.

The Aug. 20 civil-defense exercise will test resident evacuations, making way for emergency vehicles and traffic controls through a live nationwide drill. Han also called on the public to follow agencies' guidance and practice emergency-response rules during the exercise.