The Secret Behind No Flooding in Yangcheon-gu Despite 80 Years of Heavy Rain?...Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility

[Seoul District News] Lee Gijae, Yangcheon-gu Mayor, Emphasizes On-Site Administration with 'Proactive Field Response' During Heavy Rain... Zero Road and House Flooding Damage Due to Sewer Backflow After Completion of Sinwol Rainwater Retention and Drainage Facility

Yang Cheon-gu Mayor Lee Gi-jae (right) is visiting the Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility and having a conversation with officials.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Amid record-breaking heavy rain in 80 years, Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) has attracted attention for having no flooding.

This is attributed to the Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility.

Accordingly, the Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility has been visited by key officials one after another.

On the 9th, Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, and on the 10th, Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister, visited the Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility site and received briefings.

Why did the Prime Minister and Minister focus on Yangcheon-gu?

The Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility is the country's first rainwater tunnel-type disaster prevention facility, constructed to overcome continuous flooding damage in the Sinwol-dong area from 2010 to 2012. It can store up to 320,000 tons of rainwater and is equipped with functions to store rainwater 40 meters underground and simultaneously drain it.

In addition, Yangcheon-gu has significantly increased and provided free installation of flood prevention facilities such as backflow preventers and water barriers in underground houses since 2011.

Also, care officials and volunteers composed of district office employees visit each household to inspect drainage facilities and support recovery in case of damage. As of 2022, 512 submersible pumps, 10,385 backflow preventers, and 5,094 water barriers have been installed in 4,368 households.

On this safety facility foundation, proactive on-site responses by Mayor Lee Gi-jae of Yangcheon-gu, who practices “field-centered administration” regularly, have played a key role in minimizing flood damage.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae visited the Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility for his first on-site inspection on June 20 during his candidacy period. In particular, he personally inspected the 40-meter-deep tunnel, met with facility managers, and meticulously checked how much hourly rainfall the facility can handle and whether any future improvements are needed.

Also, on his first day in office, he prioritized ensuring the safety of residents as the top goal to start the 8th elected term. Concerned about possible damage from heavy rain the day before his inauguration, he toured flood-prone areas such as Sinjeonggyo Bridge, Yongwangsan cut slope, Knowledge Industry Center construction site, and Mokdong rainwater pumping station, urging thorough safety management.

During this heavy rain as well, on August 9 at 8 a.m., he conducted an emergency on-site inspection, visiting related department heads and flood subsidence sites, Jiyang Senior Center, and Urban Agriculture Park to carefully observe damage status and recovery processes and prepare to prevent additional damage.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae of Yangcheon-gu emphasized, “Protecting residents’ safety is a duty that must come before anything else,” adding, “Since many accidents occur in places that can usually be anticipated, maintaining vigilance and preparation can minimize damage.”

He also said, “I deeply regret the loss of many lives in other regions due to the record-breaking heavy rain, share the sorrow of the affected families, and will spare no support to help the disaster victims quickly return to their daily lives.”

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