Assemblyman Seodongyong Organizes Briefing Session with Korea Water Resources Corporation on Responsibility for Seomjingang Flood Damage

"We Will Demand Substantial Compensation Support for Residents Affected by Seo Councilor"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Seo Dong-yong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye-eul), will hold consecutive briefing sessions on the 4th with Korea Water Resources Corporation (hereafter K-water), local government heads of the flood-affected areas along the Seomjin River in Gokseong and Gurye, as well as members of the county councils and provincial assembly, to discuss follow-up measures related to the Seomjin River flood disaster.

Today's briefing will be conducted with a minimal number of participants to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At around 4:30 PM, the meeting will be held at Gokseong County Office with Gokseong County Governor Yoo Geun-gi, Gurye County Governor Kim Soon-ho, and related officials. Following that, at 5 PM, the session will continue at Seo Dong-yong’s Gokseong office with members of the Gokseong and Gurye county councils and provincial assembly members in attendance.

From K-water, Choi Deung-ho, head of the Yeong-Seom Basin Headquarters overseeing the Seomjin River basin, along with executives responsible for water management, will attend to explain the dam discharge process, discuss practical compensation measures for damages, and deliberate on establishing a system to prevent recurrence.

Earlier, on the 24th of last month, during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee’s comprehensive policy questioning session, Representative Seo pointed out issues with K-water’s discharge system and dam management to Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, and criticized the inadequate embankment management system related to the collapse of the Seosicheon 1 Bridge embankment to Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi.

On the 1st, during the Budget and Accounts Committee’s subcommittee review, Seo urged Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung to conduct a thorough audit to identify the causes of the Seomjin River flood, and pointed out the limitations in the accumulation and operation of disaster management funds by local governments to the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, emphasizing the need to realize actual damage support. He has consistently called for prompt and strict responses from all government departments related to the flood disaster.

Representative Seo Dong-yong stated, “The residents’ anger and suspicion over K-water’s sudden discharge are immense. The anger that had been building up over K-water’s unilateral control of the Seomjin River water, which should be shared by basin residents, exploded with this massive flood. While it would be appropriate to invite affected residents to the briefing, considering the ongoing COVID-19 spread and residents’ safety, only representatives of the citizens will be invited. Above all, I will strongly demand practical compensation measures and, furthermore, call for the establishment of a fundamental system that allows basin residents to share the Seomjin River, including appropriate discharge amounts during dry seasons for the lower reaches of the Seomjin River.”

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