Muan-gun's 'Disaster Management Desk Administration' Detected in Ministry of the Interior and Safety Request Audit

Four Employees Including Former Manager of Disaster Management Face Mass Disciplinary Action

Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, has revealed vulnerabilities in managing natural disasters. Jeollanam-do announced the results of a special audit on Muan-gun requested by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 12th.

According to the audit data, the Safety General Division of Muan-gun was found by the provincial audit to have improperly handled consultation and management tasks related to disaster impact assessments and the designation and management of natural disaster risk improvement zones from March 2018 to January 2021.

As a result, a total of four people, including one former division head and three former staff members, were reprimanded for improperly handling tasks related to natural disaster risk improvement zones, disaster impact assessment consultations, and post-management duties.

Exterior view of Muan-gun Office Building

In particular, they issued a "correction request" to upload digital files such as topographic maps for 2,481㎡ of natural disaster risk improvement zones that had not been uploaded to the National Land Use Information System. Going forward, they mandated strict adherence to administrative procedures according to the practical guidelines for disaster impact assessment consultations under the Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act.

Additionally, when designating natural disaster risk improvement zones, they required that topographic map notifications be made simultaneously and that digital files be uploaded to the National Land Use Information System. They also issued a "caution request" to install signboards immediately upon designation of such zones.

In March 2018, Muan-gun designated an area of approximately 50,000㎡ around Seongnam-ri, Muan-eup, as a collapse risk zone with a grade 'A'. However, just one year later, in May 2019, they approved the construction of an apartment complex on a site partially included in this zone.

The apartment complex was completed in 2022, and residents of 208 households have already moved in. During construction, some sections of the ground collapsed, prompting a detailed inspection that found voids in five locations, leading to ground reinforcement work.

The apartment construction company failed to notify Muan-gun of the disaster impact assessment and manager designation within 20 days of commencement, as required, and did not even notify the completion.

Unaware of these notifications, Muan-gun did not supervise disaster impact assessments or collapse countermeasures from the start of construction to completion, resulting in a special audit by Jeollanam-do at the request of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Meanwhile, on December 22 of last year, Muan-gun installed collapse risk zone signboards near the apartment complex in accordance with an ordinance. However, when residents questioned why the apartment was built in a disaster risk zone and expressed anxiety, the county removed the signboards about 20 days after installation, promising to alleviate residents' concerns, which became a somewhat ironic incident.

Muan = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-ju just8440@asiae.co.kr