Social impacts of disasters in South Korea: A systematic literature review

Kyoo-Man Ha

Article ID: 8484
Vol 4, Issue 5, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23812/ssd8484

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Abstract

Given the increasing frequency and complexity of disasters in South Korea, there is a growing need to strengthen forward-looking and effective disaster management. South Korea has concentrated on managing physical impacts, but disasters can have both physical and social impacts. This research aimed to examine creative and feasible alternatives for addressing the social impacts of disasters in the field of South Korean disaster management. Based on a systematic literature review (to include PRISMA 2020 guidelines) as a major methodology, three periods of social impacts of disasters (as analytical categories) were analyzed by cross-checking three analytical levels (as analytical units): Individual, community, and national, as well as four aspects of social impacts (as analytical units): Psychological hurt, unequal minority, unemployment disadvantages, and political battle. The key theme was that the social impacts of disasters evolved or may evolve into social ignorance (July 1953–May 2004), social complaint (June 2004–April 2014), and social awareness (from May 2014 onwards), in chronological order. This article comprehensively examines the social impacts of disasters on dynamic South Korea, surpassing previous studies. 


Keywords

disaster management; physical impacts; social ignorance; social complaint; social awareness


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