Government Prioritizes Declaration of Special Disaster Zones in 13 Areas Including Yecheon, Gongju, and Nonsan

Additional Regions to Be Selected Soon

The government, based on preliminary survey results of heavy rain damage areas, has received presidential approval to prioritize the declaration of 13 local governments that are certain to meet the declaration criteria as special disaster zones.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is visiting the landslide damage site in Beolbang-ri, Gamcheon-myeon, Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk on the 17th to inspect the damage situation. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 19th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated, "The government's decision to prioritize the declaration of special disaster zones before the central joint investigation was made based on the judgment that a proactive government-level measure is necessary for the swift recovery and restoration from the concentrated heavy rain damage."

The government also plans to promptly complete damage surveys in areas excluded from this declaration due to ongoing heavy rain and flooding, and will additionally declare special disaster zones as soon as they meet the declaration criteria.

Local governments declared as special disaster zones will receive additional national funding to cover part of the local government’s share of restoration costs, thereby reducing their financial burden. Additionally, affected residents will receive disaster relief funds (provided equally regardless of special disaster zone declaration) along with indirect benefits such as exemptions from national and local tax payments and reductions in public utility charges.

Han Chang-seop, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, expressed, “We hope that this prioritized declaration of special disaster zones will help local governments swiftly recover from damage and assist evacuees in returning to their daily lives and livelihoods.” He also emphasized, “We will thoroughly analyze the causes of this concentrated heavy rain damage and establish permanent restoration plans to prevent recurrence of similar damage.”