Emergency Standby for Typhoon Khanun... Yoon Faces Disaster Management Test Again

Receiving reports and giving instructions from government ministries since the 9th
Flood forecasting and flood damage prevention simulation to be established by the end of this year
Full effort on Jamboree safety management... Korean Prime Minister presides over meeting

President Yoon Suk-yeol is on emergency standby to receive reports and give instructions regarding the path, heavy rain, and strong winds of Typhoon Khanun, the sixth typhoon, as it approaches the Korean Peninsula. The disaster management measures ordered by President Yoon, amid ongoing damage caused by abnormal weather such as heavy rain and strong typhoons, are also being put to the test.

According to the Presidential Office on the 10th, President Yoon has been on emergency standby since the previous day, receiving reports from government ministries and issuing instructions related to typhoon preparedness. Unlike Typhoon Hinnamnor, which landed on the Korean Peninsula in the early morning last year, the situation and patterns are different, so although President Yoon is not staying overnight at the Presidential Office, he is receiving frequent reports even at night from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, government ministries, and local governments, and is seeking response measures, the Presidential Office explained.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of 7 a.m. on the day, Typhoon Khanun's forecast path crossing the Korean Peninsula has shifted somewhat westward. Khanun is expected to pass through the western part of Gyeongnam around noon, cross Chungbuk between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., approach about 40 km southeast of Seoul around 9 p.m., and then exit South Korea. A typhoon advisory was issued for Seoul starting at 9 a.m. that day.

The government is viewed as being put to the test in disaster management with this typhoon situation. Criticism has arisen that despite President Yoon's repeated instructions and reprimands, damage has not been minimized. Earlier, after the heavy rain in August last year, President Yoon ordered a system to minimize human casualties, including digital simulations, four times, emphasizing the need to actively respond to the normalized abnormal climate.

During the Ministry of Science and ICT and Ministry of Environment briefings in August last year and January this year, and at the Cabinet meeting in June, he explained the importance of flood control and ordered the establishment of an AI flood forecasting system equipped with flood forecasting and warning systems using information and communication technology (ICT) and science and technology, as well as the prompt expansion of water disaster prevention infrastructure.

Nevertheless, when the government and local governments failed to properly respond to the heavy rain last month, resulting in casualties, President Yoon again criticized at a closed Cabinet meeting on the 18th of the same month, saying, "Digital simulations must be conducted linking heavy rain information with tidal cycles to understand how watercourses across the entire country change when a large amount of rainwater flows in, which has been emphasized since last year's floods," and stressed collaboration with the government and experts.

A Presidential Office official said, "Following President Yoon's instructions last year, the Korea Meteorological Administration, government ministries, and private experts are collaborating to build the system," adding, "Simulation systems such as database work will be completed within this year and will be operational from next year's heavy rain and typhoon seasons."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since it is difficult to utilize the system during this typhoon, the Presidential Office and government are preparing through organic communication among government ministries. President Yoon, who had been receiving reports from related ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Environment, Korea Meteorological Administration, National Police Agency, and National Fire Agency even before the typhoon entered the Korean Peninsula, received a report on the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' preparedness regarding the forecast that the typhoon was approaching the Korean Peninsula through the southeast sea of Jeju and ordered an all-out response on the previous afternoon.

President Yoon said the previous day, "This typhoon is unusually expected to directly cross the Korean Peninsula and move slowly, so significant damage is anticipated. While we cannot completely block the power of nature, thorough control of risk areas, preemptive evacuation, and close cooperation among disaster management authorities can minimize precious human casualties," and ordered the full mobilization of the government's disaster response resources.

The Korea Meteorological Administration also plans to strengthen organic response activities with government ministries. On the 4th, the KMA announced an administrative notice for a complete revision of the "Korea Meteorological Administration Data Management and Provision Regulations," which clarifies the basis for integrated provision of data activation based on data. This is to share weather conditions in real time so that the KMA and government ministries can respond actively and timely.

The government and local governments plan to cooperate actively to prevent nationwide damage and ensure no damage occurs at the World Scout Jamboree, which is scheduled to conclude on the evening of the 11th.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, at a meeting of the Saemangeum Jamboree Emergency Response Team held at the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room in the Government Seoul Office in the morning, said, "Typhoon Khanun is forecast to make landfall on the southern coast this morning and cross the Korean Peninsula," emphasizing, "If necessary, please consider issuing evacuation orders and forced evacuation measures under the Disaster and Safety Act."

Regarding the Jamboree K-pop concert to be held on the 11th at Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium, he said, "Since it is expected that the largest number of participants will attend during the event, thorough safety management is required," and urged, "Please prepare meticulously to ensure order and safety in all processes, including movement between accommodations and the venue, entry and exit of the venue, event preparation, and performance progress."

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