Korea Forest Service Conducts On-Site Inspection of Landslide-Prone Areas During Thaw Season

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 7th that it will operate the 'Field Inspection Team for Landslide-Prone Areas during the Thawing Period' until the 24th of this month.

Members of the on-site inspection team for landslide-prone areas are removing fallen rocks on the forest road. Photo by Korea Forest Service

The field inspection teams are organized into four regional groups: Seoul·Gyeonggi·Gangwon area, Chungcheong area, Jeolla area, and Gyeongsang area. They will be deployed alongside local governments and Korea Forest Service-affiliated institutions conducting their own safety inspections from February 15 to April 2.

Private experts participating in the field inspection teams are responsible for verifying whether the safety inspections conducted by the management agencies of landslide-prone areas are properly implemented.

The main inspection items include ▲appropriateness of safety inspections in landslide-prone areas during the thawing period ▲maintenance of resident communication systems ▲updating of action guidelines for landslide disaster site response ▲whether publicity and education are conducted for residents living near landslide-prone areas.

As of the end of last year, approximately 27,400 sites nationwide have been designated as landslide-prone areas.

Kim In-ho, head of the Landslide Prevention Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, “During the thawing period from February to April, the ground surface that was frozen throughout the winter melts, weakening the ground, which increases the possibility of safety accidents around landslide-prone areas. The Korea Forest Service will ensure thorough safety inspections of landslide-prone areas during the thawing period through the operation of the field inspection teams.”

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