Developing voluntary agencies in emergency management: The United States and Korea

Authors

  • Kyoo-Man Ha, PhD, CEM
  • Ji-Young Ahn, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2008.0028

Keywords:

voluntary agency, United States, Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to develop policy implications after comparing the roles of voluntary agencies in the United States and Korea with the ultimate goal of contributing to emergency management in both countries. The stipulation is that voluntary agencies can substitute for the lack of government roles. Also, the underlying driver of US voluntary response is more for monetary contributions, whereas the Korean voluntary response is more altruistic in nature as a product of Korean culture. After comparing each country’s (1) volunteers, (2) organization, (3) strategy, and (4) other issues, the article found that the two national voluntary systems have developed very different approaches to voluntary promotion in emergency management. In short, the major tenet of this article is that US voluntary agencies have relied on a bottom-to-top approach, while Korean voluntary agencies have relied on a top-to-bottom approach in emergency management.

Author Biographies

Kyoo-Man Ha, PhD, CEM

Emergency Management Instructor, National Emergency Management Agency of Korea.

Ji-Young Ahn, MD

Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul-Paik Hospital, Korea.

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Published

07/01/2008

How to Cite

Ha, PhD, CEM, K.-M., and J.-Y. Ahn, MD. “Developing Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management: The United States and Korea”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 6, no. 4, July 2008, pp. 39-50, doi:10.5055/jem.2008.0028.

Issue

Section

Articles