Prime Minister Han Seong-suk listens to residents during a visit to the flood-damaged Mochung-dong neighborhood in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Saturday. [Yonhap]
Prime Minister Han Seong-suk listens to residents during a visit to the flood-damaged Mochung-dong neighborhood in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Saturday. [Yonhap]

PM inspects recovery, drainage facilities in flood-hit Mochung-dong

'Abnormal climate may exceed past levels,' she warns, calling for tailored measures

Prime Minister Han Seong-suk visited Mochung-dong in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Saturday to inspect recovery efforts and drainage facilities following heavy rainfall damage, and ordered a comprehensive survey of flood-prone zones across the country.

At the scene, Han received a briefing from Cheongju city officials on how dozens of households were inundated during the heavy rains on Wednesday and Thursday, and toured the affected area herself.

After receiving a report on maintenance work to prevent future flooding, Han called for more thorough preparedness. "There may be abnormal climate events that exceed past levels," she said.

Han then directed the Ministry of Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy to collaborate on region-specific measures through a full survey and data analysis of chronically flood-prone zones. "Identify flood-prone areas nationwide and inspect the most frequently affected ones first," she said. She also called for stronger inspection and management of drainage facilities and urged relevant agencies to push ahead with disaster-prevention projects without delay.

Han offered words of comfort to residents she met at the scene. "You must be so distressed — we will make sure proper measures are taken," she said. When residents raised concerns that dredging a nearby river was needed to reduce damage but that the environmental permitting process was too complicated, Han said the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and local government would all need to look into the matter together.


hong@heraldcorp.com