Speaker
Description
The World Economic Forum (WEF) identifies extreme weather events, failure to address climate change, and major natural disasters as critical global environmental risks. While these risks can be assessed through objective data, citizens often experience psychological distress even without direct exposure to disaster damage. This highlights the importance of understanding how regional disaster vulnerability influences individual disaster perceptions and the regional variations in these influences.
This study examines the relationship between regional disaster vulnerability and individual disaster perceptions, focusing on Seoul and Busan as representative South Korean cities. Using a multilevel model, the research reveals significant findings regarding the interplay between individual characteristics, social capital, and regional vulnerability. Individuals with lower economic and social levels consistently perceive their communities as more vulnerable to natural disasters. Additionally, low trust in public institutions and prior volunteer experience heighten perceptions of disaster vulnerability. The study further identifies direct exposure to disaster impacts as the most significant determinant of disaster perception.
From a policy perspective, these findings carry important implications. First, efforts to mitigate disaster risks should prioritize reducing tangible community-level vulnerabilities. This includes strengthening infrastructure, improving urban planning, and implementing effective early warning systems to minimize the direct impacts of natural disasters. Second, policymakers must address the psychological dimensions of disaster perception. Enhancing public trust in government institutions through transparent disaster management policies and inclusive decision-making processes can reduce perceived vulnerabilities.
Third, fostering community resilience by encouraging volunteerism and strengthening social networks can help individuals feel more secure and empowered in the face of potential disasters. Public awareness campaigns should focus on educating citizens about disaster preparedness while promoting trust and cooperation between communities and local governments.
Finally, the study underscores the need for targeted interventions tailored to regional differences. Since the factors influencing disaster perceptions vary across regions, disaster management policies should account for the unique social, economic, and infrastructural contexts of each area. For instance, low-income communities may require additional support to enhance resilience, while urban areas may benefit from integrated disaster risk reduction strategies that address both structural vulnerabilities and psychological concerns.
In conclusion, reducing disaster perceptions requires a dual approach: minimizing actual disaster risks through robust infrastructure and planning while simultaneously addressing the psychological and social dimensions of disaster vulnerability. By prioritizing these efforts, policymakers can build more resilient communities capable of effectively responding to natural disasters.
| Keywords | Climate change; Natural disasters; Disaster vulnerability; Disaster perception |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
