Yongsan-gu, Supplementary Budget for Flood Prevention Project in Low-Lying Underground Housing Allocated

[Seoul District News] Yongsan-gu Allocates 600 Million KRW Budget Early This Year for Flood Prevention Project, Secures Additional 200 Million KRW ... Yongsan-gu Supports 114 Low-Income Seniors with Summer Blankets

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Park Hee-young) announced that it will allocate an additional budget of 200 million KRW for the flood prevention project for low-lying underground houses.

This is to actively respond to the additional heavy rain and typhoons following the record-breaking rainfall in 80 years on the 8th and 9th. During that period, Yongsan-gu also experienced heavy rain of 85.5mm per hour, causing flooding on the road at the terminus area in Bogwang-dong and flood damage to several low-lying underground houses.

Earlier this year, Yongsan-gu conducted a demand survey in advance to prevent flood damage and established a plan for the ‘Flood Prevention Project for Low-lying Underground Houses.’ According to the plan, a budget of 600 million KRW (300 million KRW from the city and 300 million KRW from the district) was secured. The budget is used to install and maintain indoor backflow prevention facilities and water barriers in flood-vulnerable houses. So far, 70-80% of the work has been completed ahead of the summer monsoon and heavy rain season.

▲ Installation plan prioritizes indoor backflow prevention facilities (1,218 locations) for houses vulnerable to sewage backflow ▲ Water barriers (500m) at points vulnerable to surface water overflow

A district official said, “As the frequency of localized heavy rain increases recently, residents’ requests for flood prevention facilities are also rising,” adding, “We will make every effort to prevent flood damage by allocating an additional 200 million KRW budget this time.”

The district plans to install flood prevention facilities free of charge in underground houses expected to be damaged during heavy rain. Backflow prevention facilities are installed in indoor drainage systems such as bathrooms, verandas, and sinks, while water barriers are attached to thresholds or windows at entrances where rainwater may enter. Householders or building owners who wish to have the facilities installed can apply to the district office’s Water Management Division until the budget is exhausted.

Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young emphasized, “Disasters must be prepared for in advance, and nothing is more important than ‘safety,’” urging residents’ active interest and cooperation, and stressed, “The district will do its best to protect the safety and property of residents.”

To make Yongsan safe from flood damage, the district activated the Flood and Wind Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Disaster Headquarters) on May 13. For 61 households expected to suffer flood damage in the area, 61 care officials and 61 emergency support volunteers were assigned respectively, sharing real-time information on each household’s situation during heavy rain and other dangerous situations to ensure close management.

In April, flood prevention facilities for low-lying and underground houses were also inspected. Major inspection items included the condition of water barriers and indoor backflow prevention devices, the normal operation of submersible pumps, and any abnormalities in the distribution facilities of sump pits.

Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Park Hee-young) supported 114 summer blankets to low-income elderly residents in the area on the 17th to help vulnerable groups endure the ongoing heatwave.

The district selected 114 elderly people with low income, such as recipients of basic livelihood security and near-poverty groups, from among 1,151 local elderly people eligible for the ‘Customized Elderly Care Service’ provided to those who have difficulty with daily activities, and delivered cotton blankets.

The blankets were made by elderly members of the Siheung Senior Club, an organization dedicated to elderly employment, who used sewing machines to produce them directly. The purchase of these blankets aims to help expand economic activities and social participation opportunities for the elderly.

Visiting elderly residents Kim Hye-sook (female) and Yoo Jin-ha (male) to check on their well-being, Yongsan District Mayor Park Hee-young said, “I always worry about the elderly who are having an even harder summer due to heavy rain and heatwaves amid the strong resurgence of COVID-19,” adding, “I hope the items provided this time will help them have a healthy summer, even if just a little.”

Meanwhile, the district plans to operate 110 cooling shelters for the elderly until September and 105 shade tents installed at crosswalks and traffic islands with heavy pedestrian traffic until October to help residents avoid the heatwave.