Yoon Declares Daegu Gunwi-gun and Gangwon Hyeonnae-myeon as 'Special Disaster Areas' Following Typhoon Damage

Emergency Preliminary Survey Conducted for Rapid Support
First Declaration of Special Disaster Area for Crop Damage

On the 14th, President Yoon Suk-yeol prioritized the declaration of Gunwi County in Daegu City and Hyeonnae-myeon in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, which were affected by Typhoon Khanun, as special disaster zones.

President Yoon made this decision following his directive for an urgent preliminary investigation to provide swift damage support, considering that the joint investigation by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) would take more than two weeks.

This declaration was made for areas that met the criteria after additional investigations beyond the 13 local governments that were initially declared special disaster zones on the 19th of last month. Going forward, once the CDSCH completes its damage investigation promptly and the criteria are met, additional special disaster zones may be declared.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, President Yoon declared seven cities and counties including Chungju and Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province, which suffered large-scale damage from last month's heavy rains, as well as 20 towns and townships such as Seosu-myeon in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, and Dongmun-dong in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, as special disaster zones.

In April, due to abnormal low temperatures and frost damage causing flower bud death and poor fruit set, two counties including Uiseong and Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province, and 15 towns and townships including Yanggang-myeon in Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province, and Geumcheon-myeon in Naju, South Jeolla Province, were declared special disaster zones. This is the first time special disaster zones have been declared due to crop damage.

Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, explained, "Until now, declarations of special disaster zones only considered damage to facilities caused by floods, wildfires, and fires," adding, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration designated including crop damage in natural disasters as a national agenda to alleviate farmers' difficulties and improved related systems accordingly."