Kim Woong: "Unacceptable Dam Discharge Volume... Audit by Board of Audit and Inspection Needed, Not Ministry of Environment Investigation"

Yongdam Dam Releases 45t Over 3 Days Despite 300t Discharge Approval
"Reservoir Level Rise → Temporary Discharge... Lowland Damage Worsens"
Discharge Reduced Despite Additional Rainfall Forecast at Hapcheon Dam and Others

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] On the 20th, Kim Woong, a member of the Future United Party, pointed out the government's failure to release water from dams during the recent heavy rainfall period at the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, urging the Board of Audit and Inspection to conduct an audit for clear accountability.

According to data submitted by the Korea Water Resources Corporation to Representative Kim, the official document approving the sluice gate discharge of Yongdam Dam on July 29 this year authorized increasing the discharge amount up to 300 tons per second continuously until 6 p.m. on August 5. However, upon reviewing the actual discharge volume, only 45 tons per second were released from 7 p.m. on July 31 to 10 a.m. on August 3.

As a result, the reservoir rate of Yongdam Dam rose from 89% to between 91% and 98%. It has been pointed out that due to the continued increase in inflow, a sudden release of 3,000 tons was made on the 8th, exacerbating flooding in low-lying areas.

Comparing the reservoir rates of Yongdam Dam, Hapcheon Dam, and Seomjingang Dam, which caused severe damage during this year's monsoon season, between last year and August this year, Yongdam Dam maintained a reservoir rate of 75% in August last year, whereas this year it exceeded an average of 85%, starting from 91% on August 1.

Hapcheon Dam also rose from about 77% last year to about 90% this year, and Seomjingang Dam recorded an increase from approximately 44% last year to about 74% this year.

Despite the expectation of heavy rainfall in the Nakdong River basin, the official discharge volume was actually reduced. According to the official document requesting approval for discharge volume changes on July 30, due to the influence of the monsoon front and anticipated additional rainfall, a request was made to reduce the discharge volumes of four dams?Namgang Dam, Hapcheon Dam, Miryang Dam, and Gimcheon Buhang Dam?compared to previous levels, and this change was approved.

The Ministry of Environment has formed a 'Dam Management Investigation Committee' jointly with the public and private sectors and is investigating the overall operation and management of Seomjingang Dam, Hapcheon Dam, and Yongdam Dam, which were identified as causes of flooding damage. If operational management issues are revealed through the investigation, strict measures will be taken according to the law.

Representative Kim stated, "Flood control is of utmost importance during the flood season in dam management," and argued, "The inexplicable reduction in discharge volumes caused Yongdam Dam and Hapcheon Dam to explosively increase discharge after August 8, resulting in massive flooding damage."

He urged, "Both the Korea Water Resources Corporation, which manages dam discharge volumes, and the Ministry of Environment, which approves them, bear responsibility. For clear identification of causes and accountability, an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection should precede any departmental task force."

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