Seongdong-gu Installs Flood Prevention Facilities for 1,679 Households

Seongdong-gu Completes Installation of 7 Types of Flood Prevention Facilities for 1,679 Households Regardless of Flood History

Installation of 7 Flood Prevention Facilities Including Flood Barriers and Smart Reverse Ventilators Completed for All Semi-basement Units

Facilities Installed for All Willing Households Without Structural Safety Issues, Regardless of Household Head’s Age, Disability Status, or Flood History

Installation of Retractable Security Window Bars

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) has completed the installation of seven types of flood prevention facilities in 1,679 semi-basement households in preparation for the monsoon and heavy rains, following the nation’s first full-scale semi-basement grading survey.

The district plans to continue implementing residential safety policies, including phased installation of flood prevention facilities based on the risk level of semi-basement homes.

In 2022, the central region experienced concentrated heavy rainfall exceeding 100mm per hour, causing casualties due to flooding in Seoul’s semi-basement residences.

Although Seongdong-gu did not suffer such damage, to prepare for risks from recurring abnormal climate events, it formed a public-private governance body over the past year, including the Residential Safety TF, Seongdong-gu Architects Association, Korea Habitat, and Seongdong Fire Station, to establish preventive urban and residential safety policies.

The nationwide first semi-basement grading survey led by Seongdong-gu began in September last year, with architects visiting every semi-basement home to assess the need for facilities such as flood barriers and reverse valves, and experts conducting comprehensive evaluations to classify risk into four levels. This standard is the same as the full survey of semi-basements conducted from March to May 2023 across all 25 districts of Seoul, marking the institutionalization of housing grading based on flood risk.

Additionally, Seongdong-gu carried out a residential environment improvement project from February to June. Regardless of the semi-basement residents’ age, disability status, or flood history, all households wishing to participate received installation of seven types of flood prevention facilities, including ▲flood barriers ▲reverse valves ▲openable security windows ▲flood alarms ▲smart ventilators ▲fire extinguishers ▲fire alarms, either fully or partially depending on the housing condition.

For semi-basements with high risk levels and residents aged 70 or older, a new “Hyo Sarang Home Repair” program was launched to improve the residential environment with elderly-friendly features such as fall-prevention handrails. Support for residential welfare, including relocation to public rental housing for semi-basement residents, is also underway.

Seongdong-gu established a separate promotional plan to ensure smooth participation in flood prevention facility installation with mutual consent between landlords and tenants. Mail was sent to homeowners and residents, and staff from 17 neighborhood community centers and local leaders visited to provide guidance on the project. In redevelopment zones, promotion was conducted through associations, and community networks were utilized to encourage participation.

The foundation for Seongdong-gu’s proactive residential safety policies lies in its flood control measures over the past decade. Since 2014, the district invested 94.4 billion KRW to newly maintain a total of 60 km of sewer pipelines and expanded three rainwater pumping stations in Songjeong-dong, Sageun-dong, and Haengdang-dong to enhance urban disaster prevention capabilities. As a result, flood damage incidents, which previously occurred over 100 times annually during monsoon and heavy rains before 2013, have been zero since 2018.

Investigation on Semi-basement Housing Conditions in Seongdong-gu

Seongdong-gu also consistently implements daily flood control policies, regularly dredging 211,962 rainwater inlets.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “It is problematic that spaces like semi-basements, rooftop rooms, and goshiwons, which are actually used as living spaces, fall into safety and health blind spots simply because they are not legally classified as housing.” He added, “In the future, through legislative amendments, local governments should be empowered to install safety facilities in all spaces used for residential purposes.”

He also expressed gratitude, saying, “I thank all residents who cooperated for the safety of Seongdong-gu during the survey and installation process.”

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