Yeongdeungpo-gu, Free Installation of Flood Prevention Facilities for Underground Housing

[Seoul District News] Yeongdeungpo-gu Invests 800 Million KRW to Install Free Flood Prevention Facilities in Low-Lying Underground Homes & Provides 480 Backflow Prevention Devices and 400 Water Barriers for Semi-Underground Houses... Dongjak-gu Completes Safety Inspections of Buildings at Risk from Typhoons and Other Damages

A scene of installing a water barrier panel at the entrance of a house to prevent surface water inflow

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will proactively prevent flooding damage to low-lying underground houses caused by heavy rain by securing an additional budget of 600 million KRW to provide free installation of flood prevention facilities.

Recently, due to abnormal weather phenomena, localized heavy rain and typhoons have become more frequent, increasing the risk of disasters and accidents. In particular, this year, Yeongdeungpo-gu experienced unprecedented heavy rain exceeding 110mm per hour, resulting in flooding damage to 864 factories and commercial establishments, and receiving 6,159 reports of flooding damage to underground houses and other areas, causing severe damage.

Accordingly, the district quickly secured an additional 600 million KRW budget on top of the original 200 million KRW to prevent flooding damage to underground houses and respond to the rapidly increasing demand for flood prevention facility installation. This year, 531 backflow prevention devices and 115 water barriers will be installed in low-lying underground houses in the area, and with the urgently secured 600 million KRW budget, an additional 480 backflow prevention devices and 400 water barriers will be installed.

The backflow prevention device is a device that prevents sewage pipes from backing up when the water level rises during heavy rain and is attached to drainage facilities inside the house such as bathrooms, sinks, and laundry rooms. Water barriers that block surface water inflow are mainly installed at house entrances, underground stair entrances, and windows of semi-basement houses.

The support targets are households that have experienced flooding damage in the past or live in low-lying underground houses, and tenant applications require the consent of the building owner.

Those wishing to apply can visit or call the Flood Control Division of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office. Installation costs are fully free, but maintenance responsibility after installation is assigned to the user.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “We strongly encourage households that have experienced flooding damage or are at risk to apply for flood prevention facility installation,” adding, “We will do our best to create a safe Yeongdeungpo by striving to establish fundamental measures to minimize flood damage.”

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) has completed safety inspections of buildings in areas at risk of damage from heavy rain and typhoons to minimize damage.

This inspection expanded the previously ongoing “visiting safety inspections,” which were conducted only on aging private buildings, to include buildings and auxiliary facilities such as retaining walls and embankments vulnerable to heavy rain damage.

From the 8th of last month to the 22nd of this month, the district supported safety inspections of over 50 sites, including ▲ cross-sectional defects and exposed rebar in main building structures ▲ cracks and deformations in retaining walls and stone walls ▲ ground safety conditions ▲ building waterproofing and drainage within the site.

Especially during last month’s heavy rain period, an emergency inspection system was operated day and night, with experts from the Regional Building Safety Center visiting sites directly to thoroughly check structural risk factors such as cracks and deformations in buildings and facilities.

After assessing safety vulnerabilities through inspections, safety measures and maintenance methods were suggested according to the condition. In cases of serious defects such as collapse risk, guidance was provided to carry out detailed safety diagnoses.

Building owners or management entities wishing to request visiting safety inspections in the future can apply to the Architecture Division.

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, “As we have reorganized to strengthen safety and disaster prevention functions, we will do our best to alleviate residents’ anxiety about safety accidents.”