Assemblyman Kim Seung-nam Proposes Bill to Expand Detailed Safety Inspections of Reservoirs

Current Rural and Fishing Village Maintenance Act Limits Safety Inspections of Reservoirs Under 300,000 Tons to Visual Checks Only
Revised to Require Detailed Safety Inspections for Reservoirs Over 50,000 Tons

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Congressman Kim Seung-nam (Jeonnam Goheung·Boseong·Jangheung·Gangjin) announced on the 1st that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Rural and Fishing Village Maintenance Act" to expand precise safety inspections of reservoirs to prevent reservoir collapse or loss in advance.

Under the current law, reservoirs with a storage capacity of 300,000 tons or more are required to undergo periodic precise safety inspections, but reservoirs with less than 300,000 tons only undergo safety inspections.

Precise safety inspections evaluate the condition and stability of facilities using various measurement and testing equipment, whereas safety inspections only visually check the exterior of the facilities, making them relatively less reliable.

According to data from the Korea Rural Community Corporation, among the 3,411 reservoirs managed by the corporation, 1,528 reservoirs have exceeded their durability period (70 years), accounting for 45% of the total.

Additionally, safety inspection results show that 57% (1,940 reservoirs) of all reservoirs are classified as reservoirs of concern (Grade C or below), raising safety concerns.

Accordingly, the amendment includes provisions to conduct precise safety inspections periodically for reservoirs with a storage capacity of 50,000 tons or more, thereby preventing damage and risks caused by reservoir collapse or loss in advance.

Congressman Kim Seung-nam said, "In the 2019 flood, 17 reservoirs had problems causing damage to residents," and added, "Through this amendment, we aim to expand the reservoirs subject to precise safety inspections to protect the safety of residents near reservoirs."

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