Comparative Analysis of Civil Defense Shelters within Buildings by Country

The Republic of Korea currently faces a significant lack of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protective shelters for civilians. Thus, further research is required to expand their availability. This study examines the current state and standards of civil defense shelters within buildings by countries with high shelter coverage rates and compares them with those in the Republic of Korea. Switzerland and Finland constructed underground shelters with high-level protection against CBRN attacks. Israel and Singapore are vulnerable to immediate artillery strikes because of their relatively small territories, and they have prioritized accessibility by constructing shelters on each floor of the buildings. During the Cold War, the United States focused on nuclear fallout protection by utilizing parts of existing buildings. The Republic of Korea has focused on securing a number of shelters by utilizing existing underground spaces while constructing few high-performance shelters in border areas. The Republic of Korea needs to develop CBRN shelter models that are suitable for domestic conditions by referencing foreign shelter cases and gradually expanding them.