Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited an area in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, that was severely affected by recent heavy rains and flooding. During his visit on July 11, he inspected the site of the inundation and ordered a nationwide survey of areas prone to flooding and water damage.
Inspection of Flood Damage in Cheongju
Prime Minister Han visited the Mochoong-dong neighborhood in Seowon-gu, Cheongju City, which experienced significant flooding due to heavy rainfall on July 8-9. The area received over 130mm of rain, leading to inundation in about 50 households. The flooding was exacerbated when a pumping station, intended to drain the water, malfunctioned due to overload.
Local officials explained that the expansion of drainage facilities in the area had been approved by the Ministry of Environment (now the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change) in 2019. Construction began in 2024 with a planned completion in June of the following year. However, the project was accelerated to be completed this year, but the flooding occurred before the upgrades were finished.
Addressing Immediate and Long-Term Solutions
During his visit, Prime Minister Han urged city and provincial officials to closely examine the project’s progress. He emphasized the need for immediate measures to prevent further damage, noting that the ongoing construction was planned for the following year, but additional rainfall is expected this year.
Lee Gwang-hee, a Member of the National Assembly who accompanied the Prime Minister, highlighted the disparity in flood preparedness between Seoul and other regions. “Seoul can handle rainfall exceeding 50mm per hour, but we have problems with only 20-30mm per hour,” he stated, stressing the need to prepare for more severe rainfall events.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the need to re-evaluate the standards for flood prevention projects, suggesting that current criteria might not be sufficient to address extreme weather events.
Resident Concerns and Government Response
Residents expressed their distress to Prime Minister Han, with some noting that this was not the first time their homes had been flooded. They appealed for permanent solutions, even if they required more investment.
One resident, whose home has been flooded three times, voiced a lack of trust in government promises. They also mentioned the complex and lengthy procedures required for even basic improvements, such as raising the ground level of their properties.
Prime Minister Han assured residents that the matter would be handled properly and acknowledged the need to increase the capacity of the drainage facilities.
National Strategy for Flood Prevention
Following the site visit, Prime Minister Han instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to conduct a comprehensive survey of all areas nationwide prone to flooding. The goal is to develop customized, regionalized prevention strategies based on data analysis.
Shin Hyun-han, the Governor of North Chungcheong Province, requested that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change actively consider budget allocations for projects in the Chungcheong region, including the expansion of pumping stations and the improvement of downstream waterways, to fundamentally prevent recurring flood damage.
The Prime Minister also personally inspected a drainage pumping station in the Geumseoncheon area, which had stopped operating during the heavy rainfall.
He ordered relevant ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, to strengthen the inspection and management of drainage facilities in preparation for sudden heavy downpours caused by climate change. He urged them to ensure that ongoing disaster prevention projects proceed without delay.
Attendees at the Site Visit
Accompanying Prime Minister Han on his visit were Shin Hyun-han, Governor of North Chungcheong Province; Yoon Geon-yeong, Superintendent of Education for North Chungcheong Province; Lee Gwang-hee, Member of the National Assembly; Lee Jang-seop, Mayor of Cheongju City; Geum Han-seung, First Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change; and Kim Kwang-yong, Head of the Disaster Management Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
