Mapo District Launches Comprehensive Storm and Flood Measures from the 15th

Inspection of 699 Flood Control Facilities
7 Billion Won Invested

Mapo District in Seoul announced on May 15, 2026, that it has established the “2026 Storm and Flood Safety Measures” and will begin full-scale implementation to proactively respond to summer typhoons and heavy rainfall. Centered on the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, a phased emergency work system will be activated, and comprehensive responses will be carried out, ranging from the management of flood-prone areas and protection of disaster-vulnerable residents to river safety management.

Mapo-gu official operating the pump at the rainwater pumping station. Provided by Mapo-gu.

Since February, the district has conducted pre-inspections of a total of 699 locations, including water control facilities, construction sites, slopes, and underground facilities, addressing all 32 issues identified. Trial runs and inspections of 10 rainwater pumping stations, 19 sluice gates, and 3 flood gates have been completed, and all 692 water pumps for flood control have been checked to ensure immediate operation during heavy rainfall. A total of 641 portable flood barriers and small lightweight flood prevention products have been pre-deployed at the district office, local community centers, and apartment complexes.

For the 25,357 storm drains throughout the district, 1,873 people—including environmental officers and neighborhood leaders—have been designated as managers to ensure immediate maintenance in the event of a heavy rain forecast. The district operates a flood forecasting and warning system, and the most at-risk flood-prone areas are closely managed through CCTV-linked monitoring.

The safety net for flood-prone households will also be strengthened. The “Companion Partners” team, comprised of 120 care workers and other public officials, will regularly check on these households and provide rapid evacuation assistance if necessary. This year, the district will invest 700 million won to additionally install transparent flood barriers at 700 sites and backflow preventers at 344 sites for flood-prone households.

The newly installed flood barriers are made of transparent materials, ensuring both daylight and visibility, and thus do not compromise the exterior appearance, unlike conventional opaque aluminum products. Last year, flood prevention facilities were installed at 1,132 sites for 289 households.

River safety management will also be enhanced. During heavy rain warnings, a 23-member river patrol team—consisting of public officials, the local volunteer disaster prevention group, police, and civilians—will control access and guide evacuations around the World Cup Stream, Seongsan Stream, and Hyangdong Stream areas.

AI-based underground road flood prevention systems, disaster alert displays, forecasting and warning facilities, and entry/exit blocking systems will all be utilized, with the Disaster Safety Situation Room providing 24-hour water level monitoring. In the case of the road under Jeungsan Bridge, which is frequently closed during heavy rainfall, a phased response system will be implemented: water levels will be checked regularly during normal times, and if the level reaches 9.2 meters, the road will be immediately closed in cooperation with the police.

Each community center will form a local water disaster response team led by the community head, organized into command, control, recovery, and relief units to guide resident evacuations, inspect disaster-prone facilities, carry out recovery work, and provide relief activities.

A district official stated, “Since a swift initial response is crucial for storm and flood disasters, we are operating even more thorough pre-inspections and on-site response systems,” adding, “We will do our utmost to ensure seamless disaster response so that all residents can feel safe throughout the summer.”

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