Seoul City Prepares 441 Flood Control Facilities for Summer Heavy Rain... Completed Intensive Facility Inspections

120 Rainwater Pump Stations, 43 Hangang Nadeulmok Yukgapmun Gates, 278 Floodgates Under Intensive Inspection

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 8th that it has completed operational preparations for 441 flood control facilities across Seoul in anticipation of the upcoming summer heavy rains.

Seoul City conducted inspections and test operations last February in collaboration with specialized organizations such as the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation and facility manufacturers to ensure that 120 key rainwater pumping stations, 43 Hangang Nadeulmok (Yukgapmun) gates, and 278 sluice gates can be operated immediately at any time. The goal is to proactively strengthen the disaster response system to prevent flood damage caused by heavy rains.

All 120 rainwater pumping stations in Seoul underwent trial operations to check whether drainage pumps and other equipment function normally. Rainwater pumping stations are facilities that forcibly drain rainwater flowing into the pumping stations during heavy rains using motor pumps and discharge it into rivers to prevent flooding. They are installed in low-lying areas around the Hangang River, Jungnangcheon and Anyangcheon streams, and other frequent flood zones.

In particular, Seoul City has been continuously promoting a project to secure drainage capacity for an hourly rainfall of 95mm (30-year frequency) at all rainwater pumping stations across the city, completing this at 98 out of 120 stations (82%). Among the 22 pumping stations with less than 30-year frequency capacity, four stations including Junggok, Yeongdeungpo, Singil, and Daerim 2, where basic designs have been completed, plan to proceed with drainage capacity enhancement projects by 2027 through concurrent expansion of inflow conduits. The remaining 18 stations, such as Seocho, Bangbae, and Godeok pumping stations, will complete expansions by 2030 in connection with drainage improvement projects and redevelopment projects based on the feasibility study results for pump capacity increase scheduled for July.

Additionally, Seoul City has completed intensive inspections of 43 Hangang Nadeulmok Yukgapmun gates and 278 sluice gates. Yukgapmun gates usually serve as pathways to Hangang Park but are lowered like shutters to block Hangang River water from entering the city during flood risks. Seoul City focused on inspecting the operation of opening and closing devices, the condition of soil and foreign substances within the door frames, the sealing and water-tightness of the door frames, the status of water level indicators, and the automatic stop switch operation during sluice gate raising and lowering.

Choi Jin-seok, Director of the Water Circulation Safety Bureau of Seoul City, said, “In preparation for frequent heavy rains this summer, we have conducted pre-inspections and trial operations of flood control facilities such as rainwater pumping stations to complete operational readiness of key facilities. We will further strengthen the proactive disaster response system to ensure citizens’ safety and minimize property damage.”

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