Ulleung-gun Requests Government for 'Priority Declaration of Special Disaster Area'... Typhoon Damage Exceeds 54.6 Billion Won

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun consoling the victims in Ulleungdo, which suffered extensive damage from the typhoon, on the 9th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, announced on the 10th that it has officially requested the government to promptly restore the damage caused by Typhoon Maysak (No. 9) and Typhoon Haishen (No. 10) and to prioritize the declaration of a special disaster area so that the local livelihood can stabilize as soon as possible.

Typhoon Maysak, which passed through Ulleungdo on the 3rd, recorded a maximum wind speed of 32.5 m/s and a maximum wave height of 19.5 m, marking the highest wave height ever recorded since meteorological observations began, leaving deep scars.

Coastal houses were damaged and flooded, passenger ships (Dolphin, 310 tons, capacity 390) and fishing boats traveling to and from Dokdo sank, and major infrastructure such as ports and the circular road were completely devastated, causing unprecedented massive damage.

As a result, not only the main passenger transportation of Ulleungdo but also the breakwater of Ulleung (Sadong) Port, which handles major logistics such as daily necessities for residents, was washed away by about 220 meters. In addition, the breakwater of Namyang Port was also washed away by 50 meters, and 14 sections of the Ulleung circular road, which is absolutely essential for residents' livelihoods, were damaged over approximately 2 km. The total damage amount reaches 54.6 billion KRW according to the NDMS (National Disaster Management System) input standards.

The exact damage amount is being quickly assessed by the damage investigation team (3 members from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 1 member from Gyeongbuk Province) dispatched along with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's visit on the 9th, and the scale of the damage is expected to increase further.

Since the estimated damage amount far exceeds the special disaster area declaration standard of 7.5 billion KRW, Ulleung-gun explained that it requested a preliminary investigation and prioritized the declaration of a special disaster area before the final damage amount is confirmed, in accordance with Article 69 of the Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management.

A special disaster area is declared by the President upon the recommendation of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Chief, after deliberation by the Central Safety Management Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, who is the head of the regional countermeasures headquarters, upon the request of the Ulleung-gun governor.

Kim Byung-su, the governor of Ulleung-gun, said, "If it is prioritized and declared a special disaster area, it will be an opportunity for the residents of Ulleung, who are discouraged by the typhoon damage, to gain courage and return to their daily lives as soon as possible," and pledged to concentrate all administrative power on emergency restoration from the typhoon damage.

Kim Byung-su, Ulleung County Governor.

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