Leave no one behind: Experiences of persons with disability after the 2017 Pohang earthquake in South Korea

On November 15, 2017, at 2.29 p.m., a 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck Pohang City in South Korea. The Pohang earthquake registered as the second strongest and the single most damaging earthquake in South Korea since 1905, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. The purposes of this study are to understand the impact of earthquakes on persons with disabilities and to propose policies that will enhance the resilience of vulnerable groups during and after disasters. A qualitative study was conducted using the methodologies of interpretive description and face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants addressed the absence of an evacuation system for persons with disabilities; the absence of disability-inclusive disaster information; and the absence of disability-inclusive disaster prevention drills and education. The gaps highlighted by the participants suggest opportunities for policymakers, as well as people with disabilities as they participate in the policymaking process, to improve disaster planning.