[2023 National Audit] Head of Korea Meteorological Administration: "In the Midst of the Climate Crisis Era... Rapid Increase in Hazardous Weather Phenomena"

Yoo Hee-dong, the Commissioner of the Korea Meteorological Administration, said on the 16th, "We will become guardians who protect the lives and safety of each and every citizen amid the climate crisis, facing record-breaking extreme weather events."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In his opening remarks at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee’s audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Yoo said, "This year felt even more real as being right in the middle of the climate crisis era," adding, "It felt like riding a rollercoaster called the 'climate crisis' with broken brakes that never stop."

Yoo explained, "Typhoon Khanun, the 6th typhoon, was the first to pass through the Korean Peninsula from south to north since typhoon observations began in 1951. As soon as the severe drought in the southern regions that lasted from last year to this spring ended, floods occurred consecutively during the monsoon season," and added, "Especially, the southern region recorded the highest rainfall ever, which means we are currently living in a situation where we worry about drought and floods simultaneously in one area."

He continued, "Unprecedented hazardous weather phenomena are rapidly increasing due to climate change, and despite the growing impact on our lives, the difficulty of forecasting is also increasing," and added, "Moreover, the demand for meteorological and climate services is explosively increasing across various sectors of society, which increases the responsibility of the Korea Meteorological Administration."

Yoo emphasized, "The Korea Meteorological Administration has been leading the national response to the climate crisis by promoting the enactment of the 'Climate Act' to establish a foundation for climate crisis monitoring and prediction tasks, and by producing reliable scientific information on climate change," and added, "We have also established a data platform service that allows meteorological and climate data to be utilized in various ways in step with the changing times."

Finally, Yoo said, "It is now said that beyond the climate crisis, a crisis for humanity and a crisis for survival will come," and added, "Even in such a crisis, the Korea Meteorological Administration pledges to be the guardian in the era of the climate crisis, and we will strive to faithfully reflect the various opinions that arise from today’s audit into policy alternatives."

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