Gyeongbuk Yeongdeok, Uljin, and Ulleung-gun Designated as 'Typhoon Special Disaster Areas'... Residents Receive Tax Reduction Benefits

Relief of Financial Burden and Prompt Support for Damage Recovery through Additional National Treasury Assistance

On the 3rd, following Typhoon Maysak (No. 9), and on the 7th, under the influence of Typhoon Haishen (No. 10), large waves surged into the area around Ganggu Port, Ganggu-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk, causing flooding damage. On September 8th, the soil at Haebaranggongwon in Ganggu Port was deeply eroded. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 15th, three areas in Gyeongbuk?Yeongdeok-gun, Uljin-gun, and Ulleung-gun?that suffered severe damage from consecutive typhoons in September were designated as special disaster zones for typhoon damage by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 15th, a preliminary damage survey conducted by the joint central and provincial investigation team from the 9th to the 11th found that these three local governments exceeded the damage amount criteria for the declaration of special disaster zones. The damage scale in each area is 47.1 billion KRW for Ulleung-gun, 15.8 billion KRW for Uljin-gun, and 8.3 billion KRW for Yeongdeok-gun.

The designation of a special disaster zone follows procedures including review by the relevant metropolitan government and the joint central investigation, deliberation by the Central Safety Management Committee (chairman: Prime Minister), recommendation for declaration (head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters), and approval and proclamation by the President.

With the declaration of a special disaster zone, a portion of the local government’s share of the costs required for damage recovery will be additionally supported by the national treasury, reducing the financial burden for restoration. Residents who suffered damages such as house flooding and farmland loss will receive additional benefits such as reductions in various taxes and public utility charges. Furthermore, benefits such as reductions in health insurance premiums and additional discounts on electricity, telecommunications, and gas charges will also be provided.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo stated, "We will do our best to carry out the recovery of the typhoon-affected areas as quickly as possible so that stability can be restored at the earliest and the affected residents can return to their daily lives promptly."