Moving from a hardware-oriented to a software-oriented approach in Korean emergency management

This paper aims to encourage Korea to utilize a 'software-oriented approach' in emergency management. Toward this objective, a qualitative description is used. Korea has relied heavily on the 'hardware-oriented approach' and, thus, has experienced many barriers in emergency management. The hardware-oriented approach focuses on managing the physical design of emergency management, productivity, and exposed activities, whereas the software-oriented approach includes the social aspect of emergency management, non-neutral value, and 'hidden' (or intangible) activities. The study finds that it is necessary for Korea to develop and adopt alternatives for a software-oriented approach following measures such as supporting psychological treatment, addressing the unequal treatment of minorities, and advocating the importance of interdisciplinary study.