Summary: The 15th Asia Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine (APCDM) was held in Seoul, South Korea, on November 25–26, 2024, under the theme “Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination for Disaster Response.” The conference brought together 655 participants from 16 countries to share experiences and strategies in disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, especially in light of the significant suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Asia-Pacific region, home to 4.7 billion people—60% of the world’s population—and covering 30% of the Earth’s land area, is highly vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters. Urbanization, industrialization, aging populations, and climate change contribute to frequent large-scale disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and industrial accidents. The conference identified multiple common challenges and the need for comprehensive disaster medical responses to a wide range of scenarios, including natural disasters, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) incidents, and – importantly- public health emergencies. There is a pressing need for trans-disciplinary integration across historically divergent disciplines, including epidemiology, emergency medical services, acute care, dialysis, and mental health interventions. The conference arrived at a central message that disaster medicine is not just individual healthcare but a form of public health service targeting society and systems. Effective disaster response requires national and community-level leadership, legal and regulatory frameworks, and strong interdisciplinary collaboration. Cooperation among medical professionals, public health experts, emergency responders, social scientists, and engineers is essential to building resilience. To enhance disaster resilience, the region—and indeed the world—must emphasize the importance of robust databases, data-driven analyses, surge capacity systems to manage large-scale medical needs, and, above all, cultural excellence that fosters trust and cooperation within communities. The APCDM served as a call to action, reaffirming that comprehensive, cross-sectoral engagement is vital for effective disaster preparedness and response.
Sang Do Shin (Sun,) studied this question.