[2020 National Audit] 'Obocheong' 'Guracheong' Korea Meteorological Administration Prediction Failures...Ruling and Opposition United in Criticism

Nowungrae "Expected Summer Heatwave but Heavy Rain Came"
Kim Seongwon "Meteorological Agency Chief's Position Should Be Carefully Considered"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 12th, both ruling and opposition parties jointly criticized the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) for its failure in weather forecasting during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee’s audit of the KMA.

Lim Jong-sung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out, "This year, difficulties in predicting heatwaves and monsoons have led to an increase in 'weather asylum seekers' looking for overseas meteorological data. Although the KMA claims its accuracy is higher than foreign agencies, there is a gap between that and what the public feels." He added, "Every year during the audit, there are criticisms about the low forecast accuracy rate, and I believe the KMA also has issues with its attitude toward information disclosure."

Lee Soo-jin, a Democratic Party member, said, "The KMA forecasted that rainfall in June and July this year would be similar to or less than the average, and August would be about the same, but the actual rainfall differed significantly." She asked, "Does the KMA acknowledge that its long-term forecasts were completely off?" She also stated, "Korea Water Resources Corporation uses KMA data when planning monthly dam operations, and I consider the use of inaccurate KMA forecasts by the corporation as one of the causes of flood damage."

KMA Administrator Kim Jong-seok responded, "On May 22, we announced that rainfall would be similar to or less than the average, but by the end of June, stagnant air in the upper atmosphere led us to revise the forecast. We should have properly communicated the revised forecast, but we failed to do so."

There were also questions mocking the KMA’s forecasting failures. Starting with asking if he knew about the nicknames 'Gura-cheong' and 'Obo-cheong' (meaning 'Liar Agency' and 'False Forecast Agency'), Roh Woong-rae, a Democratic Party member, asked, "Is the KMA holding a sports day?" When Administrator Kim replied, "No," Roh said, "It rained during the KMA sports day in 1994. I don’t know whether to laugh or not."

Roh added, "This summer, a heatwave was expected, but heavy rain actually came. Have you ever estimated the damages caused by the KMA’s false forecasts?" Kim replied, "No, but we will investigate."

Kim Sung-won, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "While preparing for this KMA audit, I felt self-disgust and despair. Everything that came up in the previous KMA audit has come up again today. That’s why phrases like 'abolish it,' 'it can’t forecast,' 'it’s unnecessary,' and 'Obo-cheong, Gura-cheong' are being said about the KMA." He continued, "With the current KMA Administrator, expecting change, innovation, and reform is almost impossible. Administrator Kim should seriously consider his position."

Yang Yi-won-young, a Democratic Party member, asked, "The KMA forecasted that this winter’s temperature would be average or that a cold wave would come, but the Japan Meteorological Agency and the APEC Climate Center (APCC) under the KMA said it would be higher than average. Who should the public believe?" Administrator Kim answered, "Long-term forecasts are made by the KMA itself, but the final decision is made after consultation with climate experts from Korea, China, and Japan."

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