Korea Forest Service "Local Officers to Operate, Landslide Damage Recovery to Be Completed This Month"

The Korea Forest Service plans to operate a regional officer system this month with the goal of completing landslide damage restoration.

Jongsoo Lee, Forest Disaster Control Officer at the Korea Forest Service (first on the right), is receiving a report on the on-site recovery status at the landslide damage restoration site in Seomyeon, Seocheon-gun, Chungnam. Photo by Korea Forest Service

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 25th, as of the 21st, the nationwide average progress rate of landslide damage restoration is 92%.

Focusing on sites where construction is delayed or lagging, available personnel and restoration equipment will be intensively deployed, and on-site inspections by 'regional officers' composed of directors and above will be strengthened to ensure that restoration projects are completed before the rainy season fully begins, the Korea Forest Service's plan states.

Joint expert safety inspections of trees will also be conducted by June 15. The safety inspections will be carried out in advance, focusing on residential and densely populated areas to prevent tree damage caused by heavy rain and wind disasters.

The target areas include eight regions: Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Seongnam. Safety inspections will focus on the tilting and decay of large and old trees over 35 years old. Trees identified as at risk during detailed diagnosis will be immediately addressed.

Nam Seong-hyun, head of the Korea Forest Service, said, “We will prioritize the construction of key facilities such as check dams to quickly restore landslide damage before the rainy season and devote all efforts to securing public safety. Additionally, we will strengthen on-site inspections and safety measures to prevent forest disasters around residential areas caused by heavy rain and typhoons.”