[Seoul District News] Kim Kyung-ho, Gwangjin-gu Mayor, Orders Level 3 Emergency Duty at 10 PM on the 8th, Urgently Visits Disaster Safety Headquarters and Flood-Prone Sites Including Jayang-dong Rainwater Pump Station, Jayang Nadeulmok, Jeongbo Library Han River Riverside, Jungnang Stream, Directs Thorough Response to Prevent Flood Damage ... Seo Kang-seok, Songpa-gu Mayor, Holds Emergency Meeting at 11 PM on the 8th & Visits Flooded Hwahae Village Site on the 9th Morning ... Park Hee-young, Yongsan-gu Mayor, Inspects Flood-Prone Areas and Hannam Rainwater Pump Station at 8 PM on the 8th
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Unprecedented heavy rain has caused significant damage across Seoul's autonomous districts.
Accordingly, district mayors showed prompt actions by visiting the sites to minimize the damage.
◆ Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Visits Road Subsidence Site in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon-gu
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the road subsidence site in Sinwol-dong on the afternoon of the 9th and conducted a safety inspection together with Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Ki-jae.
Mayor Oh received a briefing on the damage status and restoration progress and urged all efforts to ensure residents' safety and minimize damage.
Then, Mayor Oh and Mayor Lee moved to the Sinwol Rainwater Storage and Drainage Facility, where they inspected the facility's operation status together with Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, who also visited the site.
The Sinwol Rainwater Storage Facility, Seoul's first tunnel-type rainwater storage facility, boasts the highest drainage capacity in Korea and can store up to 320,000 tons of rainwater during heavy rain. Its operation has effectively minimized flooding damage in the Sinwol-dong area, which has been a chronic flood-prone region during the monsoon season.
◆Guro-gu Mayor Moon Heon-il Visits Heavy Rain Damage Sites Including e-Pureun Apartment in Gaebong-dong and Gaemyeonggyo Area
Guro-gu Mayor Moon Heon-il held an emergency meeting on heavy rain damage at the district office's Changui Hall on the 9th.
Mayor Moon convened heads of departments and bureau chiefs to receive reports on local damage including casualties caused by the heavy rain and instructed immediate response by each department.
After the meeting, Mayor Moon promptly visited flood-affected areas such as e-Pureun Apartment in Gaebong-dong, Gaemyeonggyo area, and Guro Market to check the damage status and urged swift measures to minimize residents' inconvenience.
◆Gwanak-gu Mayor Park Jun-hee Orders Restoration of Landslide Damage in Residential Areas
Gwanak-gu Mayor Park Jun-hee conducted an emergency site inspection targeting areas affected by record-breaking heavy rain in Seoul and central regions.
First, Mayor Park visited Yeongnak High School to inspect damage in residential areas caused by landslides on slopes and ordered rapid restoration to prevent further damage.
He then visited Sillim Middle School in Seorim-dong and Gukji Children's Park in Euncheon-dong to oversee the removal of landslide debris caused by the heavy rain and instructed prompt safety reinforcement work.
Notably, Mayor Park had taken leave until the 12th but canceled his leave urgently on the 9th due to the heavy rain damage in central Seoul and returned to the field.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “The safety of residents is the top priority, so I revisited the sites. I extend my condolences to the affected residents. We will maintain a real-time response posture until the situation is resolved and concentrate all administrative power to prevent casualties and property damage. I ask all residents to closely monitor weather conditions to avoid damage from heavy rain.”
◆ Seodaemun-gu Mayor Lee Seong-heon Conducts On-site Inspection of Flood-prone Areas Including Yeonhui 1 Redevelopment Zone on the Afternoon of the 9th
Seodaemun-gu Mayor Lee Seong-heon visited flood-vulnerable areas such as the Yeonhui 1 redevelopment zone on the afternoon of the 9th to urgently inspect ground weakening and the safety status of nearby residents due to heavy rain.
With the concentrated heavy rain in the metropolitan area starting from the 8th and forecasted to continue until the 10th, Seodaemun-gu maintains the flood disaster safety countermeasure headquarters at level 3 and has entered an emergency response system with all staff.
Mayor Lee Seong-heon said, “Yesterday's record-breaking heavy rain caused significant damage across Seoul. Since more rain is forecasted, we will take proactive measures prioritizing residents' safety to prevent additional damage.”
If flooding damage or other dangerous situations occur, contact the Seodaemun-gu Flood Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
◆ Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Kyung-ho Orders Level 3 Emergency Duty from 10 PM on the 8th and Conducts Urgent Inspection of Flood-prone Areas
Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Kyung-ho declared level 3 emergency duty at 10 PM on the 8th, when record-breaking heavy rain hit Seoul and central regions, and conducted urgent inspections of flood-prone areas.
Mayor Kim urgently returned to the district office around 9 PM due to expected flood damage to residents from the nighttime heavy rain and visited the Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
After receiving reports on local flood situations, Mayor Kim urged thorough control of access to Jungnangcheon and prevention of damage by neighborhood and immediately visited flood-prone areas for inspection.
He first visited Jayang Rainwater Pump Station to directly check risk factors and the operation status of drainage pumps. Then he hurried to the Hangang Jayang Interchange to check the river water level and ordered measures and rapid restoration to prevent further damage where the pedestrian walkway was flooded.
Afterward, he visited the Hangang Riverside near Gwangjang-dong Information Library (photo) to check water levels and flooding extent, instructing possible control measures to prevent safety accidents if water levels continue to rise, then moved to the Jungnangcheon riverside.
At Jungnangcheon, he urged thorough preparation for urgent restoration of landslide damage at Gwangjin Rose Garden caused by heavy rain, removal of debris, and prevention of damage to water play areas.
Mayor Kim's workday ended at 1 AM on the 9th after the site inspection.
Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said, “The district has a flood safety network including comprehensive sewer maintenance and rainwater storage tanks, making it relatively safe from flooding damage. However, we must never relax in protecting residents' lives and safety. Despite continuous heavy rain forecasts, I ask all staff to prioritize residents' safety and make thorough preparations to prevent flood damage.”
◆ Songpa-gu Mayor Seo Kang-seok Visits Flooded Flower Village Site
Songpa-gu Mayor Seo Kang-seok conducted damage site inspections on the 9th as strong rain was forecasted following heavy rain on the 8th.
Mayor Seo departed at 7:40 AM on the 9th and arrived at the heavy rain damage site in Flower Village, Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu. This area had about 70 households and 100 residents evacuated urgently on the afternoon of the 8th due to flood risk. To ensure residents' safety amid sudden heavy rain, evacuees were moved to Munjeong 2-dong Community Center, and emergency relief supplies (blankets, toothbrushes, soap, pillows, slippers, sportswear, etc.) were provided.
Following heavy rain in central regions the previous day, damage reports continued across the area. Mayor Seo activated the Flood Disaster Countermeasure Situation Room at Songpa-gu Office, received damage reports, and requested rapid response at each community center.
To prepare for road flooding, patrols are conducted at rainwater inlets, underground passages, and major roads to check for vehicle flooding and road subsidence.
Additionally, safety inspections are conducted at all construction sites and public facilities such as parks and cultural centers to prevent flood damage.
Mayor Seo Kang-seok said, “The top priority of administration is to protect residents' safety. We will mobilize all administrative power to minimize residents' damage caused by this monsoon.”
Songpa-gu will convene a flood disaster countermeasure meeting at 11 AM on the 9th to prepare damage recovery plans and future measures by department.
In case of flood damage or other dangerous situations, contact the Songpa-gu Flood Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters or respective community centers.
◆ Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung Inspects Heavy Rain Situation at Jungnangcheon Riverside and Other Areas
Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung visited Jungnangcheon and Baebongsan on the morning of the 9th to inspect the heavy rain situation.
Dongdaemun-gu recorded 136mm of rain on the 8th and 9.5mm from midnight to 7 AM on the 9th.
Accordingly, the district declared level 1 emergency duty at 7 AM on the 8th and controlled Jungnangcheon, Seongbukcheon, and Jeongneungcheon rivers.
At 6 PM on the 8th, the district raised the emergency duty to level 2 at the Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and maintained level 1 emergency duty at 14 community centers.
The heavy rain caused flooding in the riverbanks of Jungnangcheon, Jeongneungcheon, and Seongbukcheon, but no other flood or casualties were reported.
After the rain subsided, the district began cleaning floating debris from the three rivers starting at 6 AM on the 9th.
To prepare for emergencies, from 7 AM on the 8th to 7 AM on the 9th, a total of 110 personnel worked 24 hours at the Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, community centers, pump stations, and field response teams, operating 33 rainwater pump stations.
Prior to the heavy rain, on the afternoon of the 5th, the district conducted pre-inspections of eight underground pedestrian passages, 42 construction sites, and 57 slope facilities at Baebongsan to prepare thoroughly. Another inspection of these facilities is underway on the afternoon of the 9th.
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung said, “It is regrettable that flooding and casualties occurred across Seoul due to yesterday's rain. Dongdaemun-gu always prepares thoroughly ahead of crises to provide a safe and pleasant environment for residents and maintains vigilance in the field. We will do our utmost in all disaster situations, paying attention even to small details, believing there is no safe path.”
◆ Yongsan-gu Mayor Park Hee-young Visits Heavy Rain Damage Sites Including Hannam Rainwater Pump Station at 8 PM on the 8th
Yongsan-gu Mayor Park Hee-young visited flood-vulnerable areas, Hannam Rainwater Pump Station, and heavy rain damage sites at 8 PM on the 8th.
Mayor Park inspected Galwol-dong underground passage, Sinyongsan underground passage, and Yongmun Market in sequence. He then checked the operation status at Hannam Rainwater Pump Station and encouraged the staff.
At 9 PM on the same day, the bus stop terminus in Bogwang-dong lost the rainwater inlet cover, and the surrounding road was flooded. Mayor Park visited the site, confirmed the damage, and urged swift measures to minimize residents' inconvenience.
Yongsan-gu recorded 231mm of rainfall in one day on the 8th, accounting for 23% of this year's total precipitation (1007mm). Complaints and damage reports related to the heavy rain include 19 cases of drainage failure, 1 case of soil runoff from construction sites, 4 other cases, and 2 cases of road flooding, totaling 26 cases.
The district completed measures for 26 flood damage cases, including partial flooding of the Bogwang-dong terminus and Seobinggo-ro road.
Mayor Park Hee-young said, “Thanks to 305 public officials who flawlessly implemented flood disaster countermeasures, Yongsan-gu suffered little damage despite heavy rain. Since rain is forecasted until the 10th, we will continue to monitor residents' safety on-site.”
◆ Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Ki-jae Urges Swift Restoration and Damage Minimization Amid Emergency Inspection of Heavy Rain
Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Ki-jae conducted an emergency site inspection at 8 AM on the 9th to ensure public safety and urged all efforts for damage restoration and minimization.
Mayor Lee visited the road subsidence site in Sinwol 7-dong, Jiyang Senior Citizens Center, and Urban Agriculture Park with related department heads to carefully check damage and restoration progress and emphasized thorough preparation to prevent additional damage.
◆ Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon Inspects Siheung 5-dong Complex Office, Gasan Rainwater Pump Station, Siheung Rainwater Storage Tank, and Cheolsan Bridge
Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon inspected flood damage areas and flood prevention facilities on the 9th.
Mayor Yoo personally checked Siheung 5-dong Complex Office, Gasan Rainwater Pump Station, Siheung Rainwater Storage Tank, and Cheolsan Bridge, then instructed staff to prepare for secondary damage and focus on damage restoration.
Earlier, Geumcheon-gu held an emergency countermeasure meeting at 8:30 AM to check flood damage status and discuss restoration plans.
The district plans to promptly investigate detailed facility damage, analyze causes through on-site inspections by construction technical advisory committee and joint inspections, and establish and implement restoration plans by sector.
◆ Dongjak-gu Mayor Park Il-ha Leads Disaster Response Overnight from the 8th, Directly Commanding Sites in Sangdo-dong, Heukseok-dong, and Sadang-dong
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) is fully committed to real-time response to minimize flood damage to residents as a heavy rain warning was issued on the 8th and record-breaking heavy rain continued.
Following the Korea Meteorological Administration's heavy rain warning forecast, the district declared level 3 (severe) flood disaster countermeasures at 9:20 PM on the 8th and entered an all-staff emergency duty system.
The heavy rain recorded 141.5mm per hour, breaking Seoul's previous record of 118.6mm per hour set on August 5, 1942, after 80 years.
Mayor Park worked tirelessly overnight from the 8th, visiting sites in Sangdo-dong, Heukseok-dong, and Sadang-dong to directly lead disaster response. He visited heavily affected sites such as the collapsed retaining wall at Geukdong Apartment in Sadang 2-dong, Seongdae Market in Sangdo 3-dong, and collapsed retaining walls in Sadang 4-dong, ordering thorough safety inspections and restoration.
He also visited evacuation shelters at Dongjak Middle School, Sadang Sports Complex, and Sadang 2-dong Community Center to listen to evacuees' concerns about electricity and drinking water.
To ensure safety for 94 evacuees due to the retaining wall collapse at Geukdong Apartment, shelters were set up at three locations: Dongjak Middle School, Sadang Sports Complex, and Sadang 2-dong Community Center. Considering the power and water outage, bottled water, water trucks, and portable toilets were quickly provided to minimize evacuees' inconvenience.
Above all, all administrative power will be mobilized to restore electricity and water facilities by the afternoon of the 10th so evacuees can return home as soon as possible.
The district operates an organic response system centered on the Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and 15 community centers, monitoring the situation 24/7 and focusing on damage restoration. Seoul Regional Building Safety Center (3 members) and external experts (2 members) conduct detailed inspections for additional landslide risks and restoration.
An on-site situation room is set up at Geukdong Apartment to promptly respond to requests for securing passageways due to the collapsed retaining wall, support flood restoration sites, and receive residents' complaints.
Additionally, following the Dorimcheon overflow causing flooding in residential areas overnight, the district immediately broadcasted evacuation messages and sent disaster texts for rapid evacuation. Shelters were set up at four locations: Munchang Elementary School, Sindebang 1 & 2-dong Community Centers, and Dongjak Sports Center for 54 evacuees. Restoration work such as stacking ton bags is underway.
Mayor Park Il-ha said, “Protecting residents' lives is the top priority. Please maintain a constant emergency system to respond swiftly to evacuees' needs and prevent additional damage from heavy rain.”
◆ Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-sung Conducts Safety Inspection at Construction Site near Yaksu Station before Work on the Morning of the 9th
Kim Gil-sung, Mayor of Jung-gu, Seoul, visited areas affected by heavy rain on the morning of the 9th to conduct safety inspections.
Before going to work, Mayor Kim inspected a construction site near Yaksu Station, where a protective barrier collapsed due to heavy rain and strong winds around 6 PM on the 8th, injuring a passerby who received minor treatment at a hospital and returned home.
Mayor Kim urged more thorough securing of protective barriers to prevent secondary damage and requested guidance to warn pedestrians in advance.
He then visited a collapsed flower bed site in Pildong and ordered prompt removal and safety measures. Fortunately, no casualties occurred there.
The recent heavy rain is a record-breaking event in Seoul and central regions, with Jung-gu recording 154mm of rainfall on the 8th and 9th, and a maximum hourly rainfall of 41.5mm.
The district deployed 222 personnel on emergency duty on both days, patrolling and inspecting disaster-prone areas, large construction sites, retaining walls, embankments, and underground passages.
They also conducted various preemptive measures such as removing rainwater inlet covers in low-lying vulnerable areas.
Mayor Kim Gil-sung said, “We will continue to monitor weather conditions and maintain emergency duty to thoroughly prepare against various damages caused by heavy rain.”
◆ Gangnam-gu Mayor Cho Seong-myeong Cancels Summer Vacation to Focus on Flood Recovery
Gangnam-gu Mayor Cho Seong-myeong conducted urgent site inspections on areas damaged or at risk of flooding due to heavy rain on the 8th and 9th. He canceled his planned summer vacation from the 10th to 12th to focus on flood recovery work.
Gangnam-gu experienced unprecedented heavy rain with a maximum hourly rainfall of 114.5mm. Mayor Cho visited flood-affected areas such as Daechi Station Intersection, roads around Gangnam Station, and Guryong Village on the 8th and conducted site inspections until dawn on the 9th.
On the morning of the 9th, he held a disaster safety countermeasure meeting at the district office, gathering all departments related to flood countermeasures, including Water Management, Disaster Safety, Traffic Administration, Parks and Greenery, and Road Management, to discuss flood damage status, response, restoration plans, and secondary damage prevention, then immediately started site inspections.
Mayor Cho inspected flood-affected areas such as Nonhyeon 1-dong Community Center and Yeongdong Market, visited Guryong Middle School, a shelter for flood victims in Guryong Village, to assess evacuees' situations, and then moved to nearby flood sites to check damage.
Gangnam-gu mobilized about 590 public officials for overnight emergency duty on the 8th and 9th to support flood recovery and plans to maintain emergency personnel until restoration is complete.
◆ Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro Returns from Vacation to Prepare Flood Damage Measures
Amid ongoing flood damage across Seoul due to concentrated heavy rain in the metropolitan area, Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro returned from vacation to inspect response situations.
Originally planning vacation until the 12th, Mayor Lee came to the district office on the 9th to receive reports on damage and measures following the heavy rain warning and shared response plans. He then visited flood damage sites and construction sites to check measures and focus on safety plans.
Mayor Lee said, “With over 300mm of rain forecasted until the 10th, we must focus on accident prevention to avoid additional damage. Above all, residents' safety must be the top priority.”
Seongbuk-gu conducted urgent inspections and maintenance of rainwater inlets and construction sites near rivers and vulnerable areas following the Korea Meteorological Administration's heavy rain forecast on the 5th. On the 8th, the district issued three heavy rain warnings and declared emergency duty, formed an emergency response team, and promptly carried out drainage support for flooded houses and road restoration.
On the 9th, the district held a “Heavy Rain Preparedness Major Departments Meeting” to ensure minimal resident damage.
Separately, all 20 community centers and the local welfare safety network are fully mobilized to monitor vulnerable residents through phone checks and site visits, focusing administrative efforts on ensuring residents' safety.
◆ Nowon-gu Mayor Oh Seung-rok Chairs Emergency Countermeasure Meeting at 2 PM on the 9th to Prepare for Heavy Rain Damage
Nowon-gu Mayor Oh Seung-rok chaired an emergency countermeasure meeting at the district office at 2 PM on the 9th.
The meeting was urgently convened with all 13 working teams of the Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to review damage and response systems caused by the concentrated heavy rain overnight.
Nowon-gu recorded 160mm of rainfall on the 8th, with a maximum hourly rainfall of 46mm from 6 PM to 7 PM. Reported damage includes 18 cases of drainage failure, 17 cases of house flooding, 9 cases of facility damage, 4 cases of road damage, and 1 case of leaning trees, totaling 49 cases. These have been promptly forwarded to relevant departments for restoration. Access to four local rivers (Jungnangcheon, Danghyeoncheon, Uicheon, Mokdongcheon) is currently restricted.
The mayor urged enhanced patrols of rivers and department facilities, flood control measures for mountains and rivers, and preparation of countermeasures for flooding in semi-basement houses caused by the heavy rain.
The district declared level 3 flood disaster emergency duty at 10 PM on the 8th, with 106 working team members and 216 community center staff, totaling 322 employees on 24-hour standby.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Due to the district's geographical features surrounded by four mountains and four rivers, we remained vigilant and prepared to prevent major damage. We will mobilize all administrative power to do our best in prevention and damage restoration with staff.”
◆ Dobong-gu Mayor Oh Eon-seok Monitors Flood Control Situations While Guarding the Flood Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters
With a heavy rain warning issued from 4:40 PM on the 8th, all Dobong-gu staff entered a 24-hour emergency duty system, focusing all efforts on flood prevention.
The district implemented level 2 flood control from 4:40 PM and level 3 emergency duty from 10 PM on the 8th, entering full flood preparedness. All departments and community centers promptly conducted access control and announcements for four rivers including Jungnangcheon, emergency patrols along riverbanks, inspections of flood-prone facilities (construction sites, sedimentation tanks, underground passages, steep slopes), care services for vulnerable residents, and guidance for temporary housing for flood victims.
Mayor Oh Eon-seok monitored flood control situations and site measures while guarding the Flood Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters even after the rain subsided, encouraging staff working late.
Dobong-gu experienced heavy rain with a maximum intensity of 81mm between 5:40 PM and 6:40 PM on the 8th, causing some household flooding. Rapid on-site restoration is underway.
Mayor Oh Eon-seok said, “Thanks to focused flood preparedness, we minimized damage despite record rainfall. Since heavy rain is not over, I ask residents in flood-prone areas such as riverbanks and mountain slopes to stay alert and take care of their health.”
◆ Gangseo-gu Mayor Kim Tae-woo Chairs Emergency Countermeasure Meeting
Gangseo-gu Mayor Kim Tae-woo received reports on flood damage in Gangseo-gu due to concentrated heavy rain in the metropolitan area and delivered urgent instructions with district officials on the 8th.
Mayor Kim instructed all departments to maintain emergency duty until the heavy rain ends and to strengthen surveillance of the Han River water level and low-lying risk areas, taking preemptive measures.
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