Gangneung City Holds Emergency Consultation with National Assembly Budget Committee Chair on National Funding for Drought Relief

Chairman Byungdo Han Pledges Full Support
for Gangneung City's Permanent Drought Measures

On September 11 at 9 a.m., Gangneung City in Gangwon Province held an emergency meeting in the 15th-floor conference room of City Hall, inviting Byungdo Han, chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee, to request national funding support to overcome the severe drought.

Gangneung City held an emergency meeting on the 11th at 9 a.m. in the 15th-floor conference room of the city hall, inviting Byungdo Han, chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee, to request national funding support to overcome the severe drought. Provided by Gangneung City

The meeting was attended by Chairman Byungdo Han, Gangneung Mayor Kim Hongkyu, former Gangwon Governor Lee Gwangjae, Gangneung Deputy Mayor Kim Sangyoung, Democratic Party of Korea Gangwon Provincial Party Chairman Kim Dokyun, Gangneung City Regional Chairman Kim Jungnam, and relevant public officials. They shared the current status of drought damage in Gangneung, where a disaster has been declared, and held in-depth discussions to establish permanent countermeasures against drought.

At the meeting, the city explained that despite ongoing efforts, such as the modernization of the aging Yeongok Water Purification Plant and the local water supply systems in Gyodong and Naegok-dong, the drought has exceeded the city’s capacity to respond on its own, especially in light of the plan to expand Gangneung’s water supply.

Accordingly, the city specifically proposed key projects for future implementation, including the urgent short-term expansion of the Yeongok Water Purification Plant and modernization of the urban local water supply system, as well as mid- to long-term permanent measures such as duplicating the water transmission pipeline between Yeongok and Hongje Water Purification Plants, reusing treated public sewage, constructing underground storage dams, and establishing new drinking water reservoirs. The city strongly requested comprehensive financial support, including national funding and special grants.

Mayor Kim Hongkyu expressed his gratitude, saying, "I deeply thank the chairman for visiting the disaster site in person despite the busy National Assembly schedule. As the daily lives of citizens and the local economy are on the verge of collapse, bipartisan support from the National Assembly is desperately needed so that Gangneung can receive budget support that is truly a lifeline."

Chairman Byungdo Han responded, "I offer my deepest condolences to the citizens of Gangneung who are suffering from disaster-level drought. I fully agree that the projects proposed today are essential to overcoming the drought, and I will do everything possible to ensure that Gangneung’s drought relief budget is secured in a timely and sufficient manner during the National Assembly’s budget deliberations."

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