President Yoon Orders "Review of Disaster Management System" (Update)

Rapid Recovery and Support Ordered... "Condolences to Those Affected"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed on the 9th to "reexamine the disaster management system from the ground up." Presiding over an emergency countermeasure meeting at the Government Seoul Office Disaster and Safety Situation Room from 9:30 a.m. that day, President Yoon ordered mid- to long-term improvement plans along with damage countermeasures for the record-breaking heavy rain that poured mainly in the southern metropolitan area since the 8th.

President Yoon stated, "This concentrated heavy rain is judged to be caused by abnormal weather due to climate change, such as the hourly rainfall breaking the highest record in the history of meteorological observation in our country," and emphasized, "The government must reexamine the current disaster management system from the ground up, considering that abnormal weather is becoming commonplace."

He specifically mentioned landslide-prone areas and low-lying flood-prone areas, saying, "Conduct preemptive control in such areas and promptly inform residents of road control information according to emergency situations to minimize confusion and inconvenience."

Additionally, President Yoon said, "Many damages occurred due to the concentrated heavy rain in the central region including the metropolitan area yesterday, and I first express my condolences to those affected," and added, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is leading the emergency preparedness posture and working to minimize damage, but please respond with full force and maintain vigilance as the heavy rain is expected to continue for several days." Furthermore, President Yoon conveyed, "As soon as the heavy rain situation settles, please conduct an accurate survey of the damaged areas and request prompt restoration and support."

President Yoon's visit to the Disaster and Safety Situation Room that day was not originally planned but was urgently decided as the record-breaking heavy rain continued. Having received a report on the concentrated heavy rain situation from Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min the previous day, President Yoon urgently instructed to devise countermeasures. Local governments, the Korea Forest Service, the National Fire Agency, and other related agencies were ordered to thoroughly manage the heavy rain situation centered on the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and to devise measures such as resident evacuation to prevent casualties. He also requested the adjustment of working hours for administrative and public institutions and encouraged private institutions and organizations to adjust their working hours as well.

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