[Opinion] Underground Bunkers

A month ago, a religious leader and dozens of his believers in Kenya, Africa, went into an underground bunker, which they constructed together. They said they planned not to come out for a year to hide from a nuclear war. Foreign news conveyed that they had plenty of food, gas masks, and gloves. Although September 12, the day they predicted as the “day of judgment” has already passed, they are still in their bunker, listening to the radio and waiting for news of a nuclear war. This commotion was brought about by a religious leader called “House of Yahweh,” who predicted that nuclear war would break out between North Korea and the U.S.

With even faraway Africans hiding into the modern Noah’s Ark, there is no need to say that our citizens are feeling unrest. There was no response such as hoarding up on necessities, but the shock coming from North Korea’s nuclear test will not be cured easily. Whether due to a mature citizenship or due to insensibility to security brought about by the Sunshine Policy, everything looks calm at least on the outside. But news that top class villas with underground bunkers in Gangnam, Seoul, are receiving attention is enough to explain the unrest of the citizens.

In case of conventional wars, an underground bunker is a useful command headquarters and refuge facility. In 1961, General Park Jung-hee directed the May 16 revolt from the underground bunker of the sixth district headquarters (currently Seoul Yeongdeungpo-gu Mullae Neighborhood Park), and in 1979, after former Central Intelligence Agency chief Kim Jae-gyu assassinated President Park, he headed to the military headquarters’ underground bunker (currently Seoul Yongsan-gu War Memorial Hall) with then Army Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa, who was on standby. Then Minister of Defense Roh Jae-hyun also hid in the ROK-US Combined Forces bunker during the December 12 coup détat.

Important government facilities and military command posts are said to have Grade 1 underground bunkers that can endure nuclear attacks. There are only 23 Grade 1 underground bunkers nationwide, which can hold a total of 27,000 people. This means only six out of 10,000 people can take shelter in these bunkers. Ordinary citizens must hide in Grade 2 and 3 level shelters such as underground car lanes, subway stations, or the basement of buildings. Pandemonium is sure to happen if nuclear war breaks out. It’s only the faultless citizens who are under fire.

Yuk Jeong-su, Editorial Writer, sooya@donga.com