Jeonnam Province - Nong-eochon Gong Jeonnam Headquarters, All-Out Effort to Prevent Flood Damage

Published 15 Jun.2023 15:16(KST)

Jeonnam Province and the Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea Rural Community Corporation (Head: Jo Young-ho) announced on the 15th that they plan to complete the maintenance and dredging of major drainage channels in flood-prone areas by the end of this month to prevent flooding of farmland and safety accidents caused by heavy rains such as the monsoon and typhoons.

This comprehensive drainage channel maintenance and dredging project has been carried out since April, focusing on areas adjacent to the lower reaches of farmland drainage improvement projects, with a national budget of 1.5 billion KRW, in response to the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast of heavy rainfall this summer due to the expansion of the El Ni?o phenomenon.

Dredging at the Drainage Improvement Project Site in Shinyang District, Goheung [Photo by Jeonnam Headquarters, Korea Rural Community Corporation]

The drainage improvement project involves constructing or refurbishing facilities such as drainage channels and pumping stations to facilitate drainage in farmland areas that frequently experience flooding.

To maximize disaster prevention effects, the project was prioritized for flood-vulnerable areas including residential houses, greenhouse facilities, and regions densely populated with other crops. Maintenance and dredging of 38 km of drainage channels in 13 districts across 10 cities and counties will be carried out, removing 91,591 cubic meters of sediment.

As of this date, 90% of the drainage channel dredging has been completed, and the plan is to finish before the full onset of the rainy season to enhance effectiveness.

Jo Young-ho, head of the Jeonnam Regional Headquarters, said, “Due to recent climate change, damage from heavy rains and other wind and water disasters is occurring more frequently than in the past. We will continue to work closely with Jeonnam Province to prevent flood damage and to promote projects that establish a safe and comfortable farming environment.”

Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province and the Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea Rural Community Corporation are investing 71.9 billion KRW of national funds this year in 53 drainage improvement project districts to prevent permanent habitual flooding damage to farmland.