Jung Mong-rae "Investigation on Management of Seomjin River, Yongdam, and Hapcheon Dams... Strict Measures if Issues Found" (Comprehensive)

Investigation of Causes by 'Dam Management Investigation Committee' in Heavy Rain Damage Areas
Composed of Government and Private Experts... Activities to Conclude by Late October
"Investigation Results Will Be Transparently Disclosed... Actions Taken According to Laws"
'Flood Countermeasures Planning Team' to Launch Tomorrow... Establishing Fundamental Measures

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae is announcing future plans including the investigation of the causes of flood damage on the afternoon of the 17th at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae announced on the 17th that a 'Dam Management Investigation Committee' will be formed to investigate the overall operation and management of the Seomjin River Dam, Yongdam Dam, and Hapcheon Dam, which were pointed out as causes of flooding damage due to recent heavy rains. He emphasized that the investigation results will be transparently disclosed, and if any operational management issues are revealed, strict measures will be taken according to the law.

Minister Cho held a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong in the afternoon and said, "We have started a preliminary investigation to quickly identify the causes of damage in areas that experienced severe flooding due to recent heavy rains."

The preliminary investigation team, composed of five experts in dam operation, repair, and water gates, held its first meeting on the same day, securing operational data of Seomjin River Dam, Yongdam Dam, and Hapcheon Dam, and began investigation activities including hearing opinions from related parties.

Going forward, the Dam Management Investigation Committee will be operated mainly by government and private experts. To form the committee, recommendations for experts have been requested from local governments in the affected areas, academic societies, and regional countermeasure councils.

The committee will consist of about 10 to 15 members and will review whether dam operations were appropriate by referring to the preliminary investigation team's results, focusing on ▲discharge volume ▲discharge timing and duration ▲whether discharge notifications were made. During the investigation, opinions from local governments and resident representatives will be collected. The investigation will start by the end of this month and is planned to be completed by October at the latest.

Minister Cho stated, "The committee's investigation results will be transparently disclosed, and if operational management problems are found based on the investigation, strict measures will be taken according to relevant laws."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the Ministry of Environment will focus on restoring facilities damaged by the heavy rains and handling floating debris, and will promote a water fee reduction of about 6 billion KRW for local governments declared as special disaster areas.

Minister Cho reported, "There have been 219 cases of environmental facility damage; emergency repairs have been completed for 160 cases, and the rest will be promptly restored with national treasury support."

He added, "According to dam water and tap water supply regulations, we will promote a reduction in dam water and metropolitan water supply fees amounting to about 6 billion KRW for local governments declared as special disaster areas."

Furthermore, 50% of the 67,000 tons of floating debris that flowed into dams, rivers, and estuaries have already been collected. Debris from dams and weirs is expected to be fully collected by the end of this month, and debris from rivers and estuaries by early next month.

Regarding flood waste disposal, coordination is underway to distribute processing to nearby local governments, and for special disaster areas, full support will be provided from the national treasury. Using water system funds and dam surrounding area support projects, plans to purchase flooded land and support village public facilities and farming will be reviewed.

In addition, common demands from local residents such as ▲expansion of special disaster areas and increase in support funds ▲compensation for private facilities and property including agricultural and livestock products ▲advance compensation for disaster victims followed by settlement ▲support for flooded houses and other damages ▲support for small merchants and SMEs ▲actual cost support for damaged crops will be requested for cooperation from related ministries.

Minister Cho said, "In the downstream area of Seomjin River Dam, we proposed strengthening flood control functions and resolving issues of dry riverbeds and agricultural water shortages," adding that a comprehensive integrated water management plan for the Seomjin River will be prepared by the first half of next year.

He also announced plans to form a consultative body to discuss dry riverbed and water source regulation issues between Yongdam Dam and Daecheong Dam, and to prioritize applying a smart dam management system to Hapcheon Dam and expand flood forecasting points.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding questions about compensation for damages due to dam management negligence and the 4th supplementary budget, Minister Cho replied, "The Central Disaster Damage Joint Investigation Team will investigate the scale of damage by August 23," and added, "At the government-wide level, damage and compensation measures will be devised by each ministry based on the investigation results. The supplementary budget will be reviewed by the fiscal authorities."

Additionally, the Ministry of Environment will launch the 'Climate Crisis Response Flood Countermeasure Planning Team' tomorrow (the 18th), led by a director-level official. The planning team will diagnose dams, sewage systems, flood forecasting systems, and water management plans to evaluate problems and develop fundamental flood management measures. Minister Cho stated, "We will effectively prepare for climate change and abnormal weather through this flood experience," and "We will establish sustainable flood management measures looking ahead 100 years or more."

The planning team will predict how much flood scale will increase due to future climate crises and review whether the current flood defense system can respond accordingly. Based on the analysis, flood defense plans will be revised, and related laws such as the Dam Construction Act and River Act will be amended. Projects such as smart dam management and AI flood forecasting, announced by the government in July as part of the Green New Deal policy, will also be prepared.

Minister Cho said, "To provide more accurate and faster flood information to many regions, we will expand flood forecasting points and increase small rainfall radars," and added, "We will actively seek cooperation measures with North Korea for safe flood management of border rivers such as the Imjin River and Bukhan River."

Meanwhile, during the Q&A session, Minister Cho responded to the plan to investigate the 'flood prevention effect of the Four Major Rivers weirs' by saying, "Currently, the damage issues caused by dam discharge are more serious," and "We will first investigate and identify the causes of these issues, and then at an appropriate time, start evaluating the flood prevention effects of the Four Major Rivers weirs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.