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Mon, December 11, 2023 | 12:39
Oddly Enough
Survival kits provided as Chuseok gifts amid geopolitical tension
추석 선물로 '전쟁가방'… '신프레퍼족' 증가
Posted : 2017-09-25 16:18
Updated : 2017-09-26 16:21
Kim Bo-eun
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Posts with the hashtag #survivalbackpack in Korean on Instagram / Screen capture from Instagram
Posts with the hashtag #survivalbackpack in Korean on Instagram / Screen capture from Instagram

By Kim Bo-eun


International new media has portrayed Koreans as staying surprisingly calm despite heightened tension due to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests. But public interest in survival kits and preparation for the possibility of war seem to be picking up.

A shipping company based in southern Seoul handed out survival kits to its employees last week as gifts for the traditional thanksgiving holiday of Chuseok, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"We have created and are distributing a survival kit with emergency items in consideration of the current circumstances," the company was quoted as saying.

"There are 15 items including the backpack _ come and pick up your bags from the general affairs team."

A photo of the bag appeared on an online community forum.

The backpack contained field rations, a blanket, an ultra-light sleeping bag, a medical kit, gas mask, helmet, portable radio, lantern, compass, raincoat, hot pack and Swiss Army Knife.

Interest in survival kits and war preparation is also increasing among the general public.

If you search for "survival bag" on the largest portal site here, the search results yield lists of commodities at online retailers, and related posts on communities.

"I doubted a war would actually break out, but then after seeing people around me purchase kits I was reminded of my grandmother's words that the Korean War (1950-1953) suddenly broke out at dawn," a post said in a community forum.

"So I've ordered items and I am going to put the backpacks by the front door. Has everyone stocked up?"

Another comment said, "My husband is looking to purchase a scooter saying they are popular during times of war."

Another comment read, "My grandfather said we must write the names and personal details of our children on notes and put them on their clothes."

A search of the hashtag "survivalbackpack" in Korean on Instagram yields pictures of actual kits people have made as well as related information. These reappeared after Sept. 3, when Pyongyang conducted its sixth nuclear test. Before then, pictures of survival kits were posted when a record 5.8-magnitude quake occurred in the southeastern city of Gyeongju last year.

While some point to commercial marketing as inciting fear, many are opting to be on the safe side.

Yonhap named these people "neo-preppers," in reference to the general term "preppers," who are individuals or groups preparing for emergencies, including disruptions in social or political order.


추석 선물로 '전쟁가방'… '신프레퍼족' 증가

생존배낭 유행·주민 전시대비 교육…'최소 지식·물품 필요'


북한의 잇따른 핵·미사일 실험으로 한반도 긴장이 최고조에 달하자 '전쟁가방'을 준비하는 등 시민 불안도 덩달아 높아지고 있다.

25일 서울 강남구의 한 중소 해운업체에 따르면 이 회사는 지난 22일 사원들에게 추석 선물로 '전쟁가방'을 나눠줬다.

이 업체는 '국내외 정세상 꼭 준비해 놓아야 할 비상 물품을 선별해 전쟁가방을 만들어 배부한다'면서 '가방 포함 15가지 물품이 구비돼 있으니 총무팀에서 수령하라'고 공지했다.

사원들은 전투식량, 일회용 담요, 초경량 침낭, 구급함, 방독면, 안전모, 휴대용 라디오, 랜턴, 나침반, 파이어 스틱, 우비, 핫팩, 맥가이버칼, 압축 타월 등이 들어있는 가방을 받았다.

사원 A씨는 '처음에는 좀 황당했는데, 최근 뉴스를 보면서 가끔 '진짜 전쟁 나면 어떡하지' 하고 걱정한 적이 있어서 집에 전쟁가방 하나쯤 있으면 나쁠 거 없겠다고 생각했다'고 말했다.

이 회사에 다니는 다른 사원은 한 인터넷 커뮤니티에 '회사의 익스트림 추석 선물'이라며 가방에 담긴 물품의 사진을 찍어 올리기도 했다.

네티즌 반응도 '지진 등 안전 걱정이 높은 요즘에 직원들을 진짜 생각해서 준비한 선물 같다', '먹고 나면 끝인 식용유나 햄 세트보다 유용해 보인다' 등 대체로 긍정적이었다.

한반도 안보 불안에 더해 지진 ·테러 등 지구촌 곳곳에서 안전 문제가 부각되면서 전쟁가방이나 생존 배낭 같은 비상품을 준비하는 시민이 늘고 있다.

소셜네트워크서비스(SNS)를 보면, 이달 3일 북한이 6차 핵실험을 강행한 직후에 '전쟁이 날까 봐 불안하다'며 생존 배낭을 구매하거나 직접 전쟁가방을 준비한 시민이 눈에 띄었다.

이런 사람들을 1950∼1960년대 냉전 시기에 '언제 전쟁이 날지 모른다'면서 식량을 사모으던 '프레퍼(prepper·생존주의)족'을 빗대 '신(新) 프레퍼족'이라고 부르기도 한다.

'부(富)의 상징'으로 여겨지는 도곡동 타워팰리스 관리사무소도 최근 북한 도발이 이어져 불안하다는 요청에 따라 입주민을 대상으로 전시대비 교육을 하기도 했다.

타워팰리스 측은 주민들에게 공습경보·화생방경보 등에 따른 행동 요령을 안내하고, 생존 배낭·방독면·비상식량·침낭 등을 평소 준비해두라고 당부했다.

석재왕 건국대 안보재난관리학과 교수는 '전쟁을 과도하게 우려할 필요는 없지만, 위협은 아는 만큼 보이는 것이기 때문에 평소 안보·안전 위협에 대한 지식과 최소 물품을 갖출 필요성은 있다'고 말했다.(연합)
Emailbkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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