Suncheon-si Selected as a Candidate Site for Flood Control Dam

Collecting Local Residents' Opinions and Holding Public Hearings for Project Candidate Sites

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced on the 30th that it has been selected as a candidate site for a flood control dam through the "River Basin Water Resources Management Plan" promoted by the Ministry of Environment.

The River Basin Water Resources Management Plan is a comprehensive plan that includes not only flood control under the former River Act's comprehensive basin flood control plan but also integrated development, use, conservation of water resources, flood prevention and minimization of flood damage, and improvement of river environments in the fields of water use and environment.

[Photo by Suncheon City]

The Ministry of Environment plans to fully consult with local residents through public hearings and other means regarding the candidate sites for the project.

Once consultations are completed, the candidate dam sites will be reflected in the "River Basin Water Resources Management Plan," followed by subsequent procedures such as basic conception, feasibility studies, and basic plan establishment, during which the dam's location, scale, and purpose will be finalized.

In the past, Suncheon experienced a tragic flood disaster in 1962, and more recently, in 2014, heavy rainfall of 75.5mm per hour caused flooding of roads and many vehicles in the Okcheon basin, fortunately without any casualties.

During such heavy rainfall, it takes only about 60 minutes for water to travel from the uppermost point of the Okcheon basin to the confluence with the Dongcheon River in Suncheon, making the area vulnerable to concentrated heavy rain.

In particular, a large urban area has formed on both sides of the Okcheon center downstream of Seomun Bridge, where extensive damage is expected in case of flood overflow.

A city official stated, "With recent abnormal weather causing increased flood and heatwave damage, proactive and diversified disaster response is crucial," and added, "A flood control dam is essential to protect the lives and property of Suncheon citizens."

Meanwhile, once the flood control dam is constructed, Suncheon City will secure facility safety and flood control capacity, secure water for maintaining the ecological functions of Okcheon and Suncheon Dongcheon, and by maximizing the opening of dam facilities and creating various recreational and cultural spaces, it is expected to attract tourists and bring regional development effects.

The plan is to construct a dedicated flood control dam suitable for local conditions that preserves the reservoir's water storage capacity during normal times and temporarily stores water during heavy rainfall to protect downstream flood defenses, thereby fully ensuring flood control stability in urban areas.