Environment ministry to build earthquake safety center in Pohang

The environment ministry said Wednesday it will lead construction of a comprehensive earthquake safety center in Pohang to transform the site of the 2017 seismic disaster into a hub for research and public education.

The project will cost 22 billion won ($16.2 million) funded entirely by the national budget, with construction set to begin at the end of this year and completion targeted for the first half of 2028. The center will be built on the former geothermal power research site that triggered the earthquake.

To overcome previous delays caused by uncertainty over operational management, four institutions signed a business agreement at the Korea Meteorological Administration's Seoul office to define their respective roles. Under the new framework, the environment ministry will oversee the design and construction, while the meteorological agency will handle future operations including staffing and budgeting. Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Pohang City will provide administrative support to facilitate permits, secure land usage rights, and foster industry-academia-research collaboration. The four parties also agreed to immediately form a working council to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

Lee Ho-hyun, the ministry's second vice minister, described the 2017 Pohang earthquake as a lesson the government must never forget while pursuing energy policies. "Building a safety hub at the origin of the tragedy is a promise the administration must responsibly fulfill without disruption until completion," he said.

Lee Mi-sun, commissioner of the meteorological agency, pledged to leverage the organization's accumulated capabilities in earthquake monitoring and warning systems to contribute to research in various fields including energy development. "We will do our best to provide earthquake safety education aimed at enhancing the public's ability to respond to seismic events," she added.

Hwang Myung-seok, Gyeongsangbuk-do's administrative vice governor, noted that the province experienced the pain of the earthquake most directly and promised to work with Pohang City to ensure the center takes root in the region through administrative backing and cooperation with local universities and research institutes. Pohang Mayor Park Yong-sun called the agreement a new start to turn the pain of the induced earthquake into safety for the nation, vowing close cooperation to make the site a landmark for disaster preparedness.