Restoration Costs for Seomjingang Flood Damage Confirmed... Significant Disparities Among Local Governments

Gwangyang City Secures the Highest National Funding at 2.6 Times That of Suncheon City, While Suncheon City's Municipal Burden Is 5 Times Higher

Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol and members of the Suncheon City Council are inspecting the site in Hwangjeon-myeon, Suncheon City, which was affected by heavy rain last month.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The disaster recovery plans and flood recovery costs for the local governments around the Seomjin River, which were damaged by the record-breaking heavy rain from the 7th to the 9th of last month, have been finalized.

At the Cabinet meeting on the 22nd, the final flood recovery costs for Gwangyang City, Gurye County, Suncheon City, and Gokseong County were confirmed at 26.0755 billion KRW.

The funds required for each local government's flood recovery plan are 8.276 billion KRW for Gwangyang City, 6.389 billion KRW for Gurye County, 6.24 billion KRW for Suncheon City, and 5.1705 billion KRW for Gokseong County.

This flood recovery cost was finalized by central government ministries based on damage surveys and recovery plans, covering costs for roads, national rivers, local rivers, landslides, and public facilities.

The flood recovery cost for Gwangyang City was finalized at 8.276 billion KRW (7.5 billion KRW from the national government, 270 million KRW from the provincial government, and 470 million KRW from the city government).

The flood recovery cost for Gurye County is 6.389 billion KRW (4.472 billion KRW national, 95.8 million KRW provincial, 95.8 million KRW county).

The flood recovery cost for Gokseong County is 5.1705 billion KRW (3.61935 billion KRW national, 775.57 million KRW provincial, 775.57 million KRW county).

The flood recovery cost for Suncheon City is 6.24 billion KRW (2.85 billion KRW national, 738 million KRW provincial, 2.57 billion KRW city).

Gwangyang City received the largest amount of national and provincial funds, totaling 7.77 billion KRW, while Suncheon City received the least at 3.588 billion KRW.

In particular, regarding national fund acquisition, Gwangyang City secured 7.5 billion KRW, whereas Suncheon City only secured 2.85 billion KRW, raising concerns about Suncheon City's difficulties in obtaining national funds.

Additionally, Suncheon City's city government burden is 2.57 billion KRW, which is five times higher than Gwangyang City's, raising worries about the strain on Suncheon City's already difficult finances.

Meanwhile, Gwangyang City paid approximately 250 million KRW in flood disaster relief funds to about 200 households for civilian damage compensation. Suncheon City paid about 230 million KRW to approximately 280 households.

It is analyzed that Suncheon City has more affected households, while Gwangyang City has greater damage in terms of amount and area.

The flood disaster relief funds are paid differentially according to the disaster index, with a maximum of 2 million KRW for house flooding, and agricultural land damage compensated based on area and crop type.

Meanwhile, a Suncheon City official explained that the reason for the high city government burden is that damages under 50 million KRW, such as agricultural road damage or waterway destruction, were not eligible for national or provincial support.