Gwanak-gu Launches 'Comprehensive Flood Damage Countermeasure TF'... 3km Deep Stormwater Drainage Tunnel from Byeolbitnaerimcheon to Be Completed by 2027

[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu Forms Private Expert TF for Proactive Protection of Disaster-Vulnerable Groups and Flood Damage Prevention Measures; Discusses Flood Disaster Map Creation and DB Construction, Expansion of Flood Prevention Facilities, Installation of Operable Security Windows... Dongjak-gu Provides Additional Home Repair Support for Flood-Damaged Households... Songpa-gu Conducts Joint Safety Inspections in Second Half of Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) was directly hit by flooding damage caused by record-breaking heavy rain in the metropolitan area on the 8th of last month. In particular, the Sillim-dong area experienced an irresistible level of rainfall of 131mm per hour.

The government and Seoul City plan to complete a 3km-long deep stormwater drainage tunnel by 2027 in the Gwanak-gu areas of Byeolbitnaerimcheon (Dorimcheon) and Yeouido Saetgang, where frequent flooding occurs, capable of handling more than 100mm of rainwater per hour.

Mayor Park Jun-hee emphasized thorough preparation, stating, “Until the installation of the deep drainage tunnel is completed, we must promptly establish comprehensive flood damage countermeasures at the district level to prevent repeated flooding of underground facilities in advance.”

The district quickly formed a 'Flood Damage Comprehensive Countermeasure Task Force (TF)' and held its first meeting on the 15th. The TF team includes key district departments such as Safety Management, Water Management, Welfare Policy, and Housing, as well as private experts in water and sewage and architectural structures, to prepare preemptive protection for flood-vulnerable groups and measures to prevent recurrence of flood damage.

The TF will continuously review and develop mid- to long-term tasks such as ▲management plans for flood-vulnerable groups ▲creation of flood disaster maps and DB construction ▲expansion of flood prevention facilities ▲installation of openable security windows and alarm systems ▲discovery and expansion of flood damage prevention measures.

The district will prepare short- and long-term phased drainage improvement measures for Byeolbitnaerimcheon. First, eight drop structures with reduced function and two bridges between Dongbang 1-gyo and Seungri-gyo will be temporarily installed, and by 2024, flood defense walls measuring 31m on the right bank and 14m on the left bank of Sinhwa-gyo will be constructed.

In the mid- to long-term, the district plans to lower the rapidly rising river water level caused by heavy rain by dredging the low-water bank, installing movable weirs, and expanding the cross-section of Byeolbitnaerimcheon.

Especially, to strengthen the response for vulnerable evacuees such as persons with disabilities during disasters like heavy rain, the district will build and share a DB and establish a preemptive response system for disaster situations to ensure the protection of the lives and safety of socially vulnerable groups.

The district plans to obtain prior consent for the provision of personal information from persons with disabilities, build a DB of vulnerable evacuees including necessary rescue information such as address, age, gender, type and degree of disability, and medical history, share it with Gwanak Fire Station, and link it to the comprehensive disaster management system (fire safety map).

To help residents and small business owners affected by heavy rain quickly return to normal life, the district has completed the payment of emergency restoration funds of 2.5 million KRW to recognized flood-damaged households and 5 million KRW to small business owners. Currently, it also supports up to 2.5 million KRW through applications for owners of damaged houses who were not previously eligible, helping stabilize the lives of homeowners who have suffered actual damage.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “A comprehensive flood damage countermeasure that residents can feel is needed not only in terms of safety management but also administratively. We will focus the district’s disaster response capabilities on building and managing flood maps and DBs for flood-vulnerable groups, prioritizing zero casualties even if record-breaking heavy rain falls.”

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak District, visited households affected by flooding due to heavy rain on the 10th of last month to listen to their difficulties.

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) announced on the 21st that it will provide additional support for home repair costs such as wallpaper and flooring replacement to households affected by flooding.

This project targets 3,406 households damaged by record-breaking heavy rain last month and was prepared to contribute to rapid recovery by supporting actual expenses incurred for home repairs.

The district confirmed the support recipients as landlords and tenants who conducted home repairs among the households registered in the National Disaster Management System (NDMS).

The support amount is up to 1.2 million KRW per household and is principally paid to the person who actually carried out the home repairs.

If landlords and tenants jointly conducted home repairs, the payment will be made proportionally according to the actual costs borne by each.

Supported items include costs related to home repair work such as wallpapering, flooring, waterproofing, window installation, and mold removal.

Support cannot be duplicated with repair support from Care SOS Service or free home repair projects conducted by other organizations or private groups; however, if only wallpapering was supported, other types of repair work can be supported.

Applications can be submitted at the local community service center from October 4th to 21st, with the application form, tax invoice, receipt, and other supporting documents. For more details, contact the Social Welfare Division.

Mayor Park Il-ha of Dongjak-gu said, “Providing actual cost compensation for home repairs separately from disaster relief funds is expected to be of great help to flood-affected households. We will do our best to support flood damage recovery.”

◆Dongjak-gu Personnel ▲Director of Core Policy Promotion Team Kim Hyun-ho ▲Head of Collection Division Lee Soon-gi ▲Acting Director of Administration and Autonomy Division and Administrative Autonomy Bureau Lee Yong-joo ▲Director of Education and Future Division Kim Kyung-ok ▲Director of Urban Maintenance Division 2 Lee Ui-shin ▲Director of Construction Administration Division Yoo Hee-nam ▲Director of Traffic Administration Division Jo Jin-hee ▲Director of Welfare Policy Division Yoo Won-sik ▲Director of Infant Care Division Kim Jung-won ▲Director of Women and Children Division Kim Hye-ran ▲Director of Disabled Social Security Division Park Mi-young ▲Director of Economic Policy Division Jeong Jong-rok ▲Director of Cultural Policy Division Yang Hye-young ▲Director of Sports Policy Division Moon Young-sam ▲Director of Housing Support Division Lee Jung-sim ▲Director of Parking Management Division Jeon Hye-young ▲Director of Health Administration Division Park Yeon-soo ▲Director of Infectious Disease Management Division Yoo Jae-cheon ▲Head of Noryangjin 1-dong Lee Deung-ho ▲Head of Noryangjin 2-dong Kim Byung-seop ▲Head of Sangdo 1-dong Sung Hee-sook ▲Head of Sangdo 2-dong Park Mi-sook ▲Head of Sangdo 4-dong Choi Seung-baek ▲Head of Heukseok-dong Kim In-sook ▲Head of Sadang 3-dong Choi Ho-gyu ▲Head of Sadang 5-dong Lee Hyun-jae ▲Head of Daebang-dong Lee Jin-wook ▲Head of Shindaebang 1-dong Kim Ji-hyun ▲Acting Director of Cleaning Administration Division Lee Bong-min

Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District (second from the left), is helping with restoration work during a visit to the flood damage site in Hwahae Village on the 11th of last month.

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is conducting a second half-year safety inspection jointly by the disaster general department and relevant departments targeting workplaces and public facilities in the district to thoroughly prevent major accidents.

Since the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act in January, the district has been identifying hazardous and dangerous factors in workplaces subject to major accidents and public facilities, promptly taking action to protect the safety of workers and residents.

In the first half of the year, the joint inspection found a total of 298 hazards, of which 290 have been corrected, and eight cases such as installation of safety railings and fall protection nets are currently under construction.

In particular, the second half-year joint safety inspection will be conducted over three months from September to December, targeting 224 workplaces and 49 public facilities in the district.

Main inspection items include ▲checking and improving hazardous and dangerous factors in workplaces and compliance with safety and health obligations ▲inspection of facility structures, fire operation, electrical equipment, elevators, etc. ▲management inspection of entrusted institutions, immediate correction through rapid repair and reinforcement upon discovery of serious defects or hazards, and ensuring compliance with safety and health-related laws and obligations.

Additionally, the district has increased the Serious Accident Prevention Team by two safety managers and facility inspection experts, and is doing its best to prevent major accidents by inspecting and guiding not only directly managed workplaces but also ▲contracted, outsourced, and consigned workplaces ▲and conducting full inspections of public facilities.

Mayor Seo Gang-seok of Songpa-gu said, “We will continue to conduct regular and systematic joint inspections so that residents can live without worrying about safety accidents caused by disasters. Above all, we will prioritize residents’ safety and realize a ‘Safe City Songpa’ through thorough preparation and rapid response systems against disasters and accidents.”