"Here to Take Photos?"... Ruling Party Leadership Faces Residents' Cries During Flood-Affected Area Visit

Visit to Flood-Damaged Gongju, Cheongyang, and Osong in Chungnam
Water Receded but Mud and Puddles Remain
"Water Hasn't Drained for a Week... Please Help"

The leadership of the People Power Party visited Gongju and Cheongyang in Chungnam and Osong in Chungbuk, areas affected by record-breaking heavy rain, on the 17th. Although most of the water that had risen during the scorching weather exceeding 30 degrees had receded, the mud and puddles on the roads clearly revealed the damage caused by the torrential rain. Residents who had gathered outside their flooded homes and workplaces grabbed Representative Kim Gi-hyeon's arm, pleading for help.

Flood damage indiscriminate of homes, livestock sheds, vinyl greenhouses, and fields... "Please save us"

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and other party leaders visited Geumgang Villa in Gongju-si, Chungnam, which suffered flood damage on the 17th, to receive explanations.
Photo by Kim Young-won

Representative Kim first visited Geumgang Villa in Gongju, a flood-affected area right in front of the Geum River basin. Representative Jeong Jin-seok, whose constituency includes Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang in Chungnam, told reporters here, "Until the day before yesterday, this place was so flooded that people were boating," adding, "The rain was so heavy that cars in the apartment complex were completely submerged."

At around 9 a.m. that day, the Geum River had risen to cover parts of a nearby park, but most of the residential areas, including the villa, appeared to have drained. A resident living in the villa emphasized, "The problem is that water filled the basement. We have been pumping it out from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with four pumps." Residents gathered near the villa's management office requested, "You must do well, this area should be declared a disaster zone," to which Representative Kim replied, "I met the President this morning and told him, and he said he has already instructed to actively review the situation."

Next, Representative Kim moved to Mansuri, Iin-myeon, Gongju, where a levee had collapsed causing flooding damage. The levee collapse flooded a livestock shed located on high ground, and the street was strewn with the carcasses of cattle swept away by the flood. Mayor Choi Won-cheol of Gongju said, "The entire village was flooded, so people gathered in the community center all night, and after assessing the situation, they were evacuated," adding, "The township chief stayed up all night, crying while evacuating people." Anmyeong, the head of Iin-myeon, shook hands with Representative Kim and tearfully said, "Thank you."

In Cheongyang County, Chungnam, where agricultural areas were flooded, farmers surrounded Representative Kim as he inspected nearby vinyl greenhouses, crying out, "Help us, the vinyl greenhouses are the most severely damaged." This area received an average of 500mm of rain per day, with a maximum of 570mm.

Inside the vinyl greenhouses, crops were either rotted or completely washed away. A farmer who retired and moved to Cheongyang County to cultivate fields pointed to the muddy waterline at the top part of a greenhouse, saying, "The water had risen up to there inside the greenhouse. The area near that levee is still submerged." When asked if there was any damage to rice paddies, he replied, "It looks fine now because the sun is shining, but the flood created an environment favorable for pests and diseases. There are so many insects that the crops are inedible," clicking his tongue.

A resident grabbed Representative Kim's arm as he returned to the village entrance, pleading, "The water has not receded for a week now. Please save us," and lamented, "Everything is ruined. My son is dying trying to drain the water."

On the 17th, a vinyl greenhouse in Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam, was damaged by flood damage.
Photo by Kim Young-won

Kim Gi-hyeon: "We will establish fundamental measures to address climate change"

Representative Kim also visited the Osong Gungpyeong Underpass site, where 13 people lost their lives, encouraging firefighters, police, rescue workers, and volunteers after inspecting the scene.

He promised a thorough investigation, holding those responsible accountable, and measures to prevent recurrence. He said, "I think the passage should have been stopped in advance, but a detailed investigation is needed," adding, "We must conduct a thorough investigation and cause analysis, and if there are responsible parties, they must be strictly held accountable."

He also emphasized revising the system through party-government consultations on river safety management issues. Representative Kim explained, "In some places we visited this morning, there was a need to sufficiently create retention basins, and in others, the drainage pump locations were too low to operate," adding, "Assuming that various new extreme heavy rain situations due to climate change are inevitable, we need to rethink future flood countermeasures."

He continued, "We must establish plans that respond to climate change on a different level from past flood countermeasures, and fundamentally devise flood prevention measures focusing on climate-vulnerable areas nationwide," adding, "At the central government level, we will gather opinions from each ministry on how to approach this issue and revise necessary laws and systems through party-government consultations." Representative Kim, who returned the previous day, was scheduled to receive a report on fundamental river safety management measures, including tributary and stream maintenance, after his U.S. tour, but decided to develop more refined measures in response to this accident.

On the 17th, the interior of a vinyl greenhouse in Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam was flooded, washing away crops and filling it with soil./Photo by Kim Young-won

'Here just to take photos?' Backlash also occurred

Meanwhile, during the People Power Party leadership's site visit, residents also voiced harsh criticism. A citizen in Cheongyang County shouted at Representative Kim, "You're just here to take pictures and leave. What promises are you making?" adding, "Farmers receive no actual compensation. Not a single farmer has received a single cent."

He continued, addressing Representative Kim as he moved by car, "If you came this far, you should at least give a gift before leaving. You should tell the residents what you plan to do so everyone can hear," adding, "You didn't even prepare a loudspeaker. What is this? Who will do anything with this?" Some residents agreed with "That's right" and "Exactly," while others tried to stop them, leading to a scuffle.

Representative Jeong Jin-seok explained, "Our People Power Party leader has comprehensively listened to your opinions and seen the site, so he will establish appropriate measures on your behalf."