"How Many Times Do I Have to Say It?"... Why Was the Public Official Furious While Cleaning the Rainwater Drain?

"Citizens' Help Needed to Prevent Summer Disasters"

A public official in Ulsan Namgu was captured expressing extreme frustration while cleaning a rainwater drain filled with cigarette butts.

Recently, a video was posted on Ulsan Namgu's social networking service (SNS) showing a public official inspecting and cleaning rainwater drains, catch basins, and pipelines.

Cigarette butts accumulated in the rainwater drain. Ulsan Namgu Instagram.

On SNS, a post stated, "We are mobilizing all administrative resources to prepare for flood damage," and added, "Thanks to the voluntary service of residents, there has been no major flooding so far, but in order to prevent summer disasters, the help of citizens is absolutely necessary."

The post especially emphasized the following points: not discarding cigarette butts or trash in rainwater drains; not covering rainwater drains with rubber lids or similar objects; and reporting rainwater drains if they are found to be blocked.

A public official disposing of cigarette butts accumulated in a rainwater drain. Ulsan Namgu Instagram.

Before and after cleaning cigarette butts accumulated in the rainwater drain. Ulsan Namgu Instagram.

The post continued, stating that a dedicated eco-friendly street cleaning team is being operated in Namgu, with teams assigned to different zones throughout Ulsan. It was also mentioned that they use pollution-free equipment that emits zero carbon. The equipment is described as having low noise and dust generation, high energy efficiency, and combining both eco-friendliness and practicality.

Meanwhile, Ulsan Namgu is taking proactive measures to prevent flooding caused by summer typhoons and localized heavy rain. In May, Namgu, together with residents from 14 neighborhoods, carried out maintenance on major sewer facilities in the district, including 18.2 kilometers of rainwater catch basins and 410 rainwater inlets on back roads. They focused on removing accumulated debris such as cigarette butts and trash discarded in rainwater drains, as well as removing covers from the drains in areas prone to frequent flooding. At the time, an official from Namgu emphasized, "We will do our best to prevent flood damage and minimize inconvenience and damage to residents through intensive maintenance of sewer facilities."