Lee Gaeho, Seo Samseok, and Jeon Jinsook Call for Support for Flood Damage Recovery in Gwangju and South Jeolla

Joint Statement Issued in Response to Extreme Rainfall Damage
"Government and Local Authorities Struggling to Restore Daily Life"
"Measures Needed, Including Priority Support from Disaster Relief Funds"

(Photo from left) Lee Gaeho, Seo Samsuk, Jeon Jinsuk, Democratic Party of Korea members.

Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Gaeho (Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, Jangseong, South Jeolla), Seo Samseok (Yeongam, Muan, Shinan, South Jeolla), and Jeon Jinsook (Buk-gu-eul, Gwangju) have called for the government to provide full-scale support and proactive measures for recovery and the return to daily life in Gwangju and South Jeolla, which have suffered severe damage from consecutive record-breaking torrential rains.

In Gwangju and South Jeolla, recovery from the damage caused by heavy rains over three days starting July 17 had not yet been completed, when another bout of extreme rainfall on August 3 brought precipitation levels up to 140mm per hour.

As a result, in Muan, the basement parking lot of an apartment complex was flooded, low-lying residential areas in the town center as well as the first floor of the county office were inundated, and a man in his 60s lost his life.

In Hampyeong, more than 50mm of rainfall per hour led to flooding in the town center and around the 5-day market, while in Buk-gu, Gwangju, residents of the Sinan-dong Seobangcheon area were evacuated, suffering yet another round of severe damage.

On August 4, lawmakers Lee Gaeho, Seo Samseok, and Jeon Jinsook issued a 'joint statement' appealing for concentrated support efforts from the local community, the government, and local governments. In their statement, the lawmakers pointed out, "Although the government and local governments are carrying out emergency recovery efforts for this damage, the support is far from sufficient given the scale."

They continued, "There is a disaster insurance system for wind and flood damage that allows for recovery and restoration at a certain level through compensation of about 70 to 90 percent, but it is difficult for low-income residents or small business owners to enroll." They added, "Swift measures must be prepared to minimize disaster damage from extreme rainfall like this and to support the return to daily life."

As alternatives, they proposed: ▲priority support from the disaster relief fund ▲mandatory wind and flood disaster insurance enrollment for low-income residents and small business owners by the government and local governments ▲insurance premium support equivalent to that provided for agricultural and fisheries disaster insurance ▲diversification of insurance products for wind and flood disaster compensation.

At the party caucus that day, Representative Lee emphasized the necessity of government support for disaster insurance premium assistance and insurance product development. He also met with Lee Hanju, chair of the National Planning Committee, to propose improvements to the wind and flood disaster insurance system.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers said, "We express our deepest sympathy and consolation to the residents who have suffered severe damage from consecutive torrential rains," and pledged, "We will do our utmost to support swift flood damage recovery and the return to daily life, and to prepare effective measures."

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