Minister Kim Sunghwan Visits Sapgyocheon Flood Site, Vows to Establish Flood Response System

Kim Sunghwan, the newly appointed Minister of Environment, visited the site of the embankment collapse at Sapgyocheon in Yesan County, Chungnam, on the 22nd as his first official activity after taking office.

The Ministry of Environment announced that on this day, Minister Kim attended a Cabinet meeting in Seoul in the morning and then visited the flood-damaged site to inspect the restoration efforts.

The Sapgyocheon area experienced 421 millimeters of torrential rain over two days, from the 16th to the 17th, resulting in the collapse of two embankments. As a result, 740 hectares of farmland, 82 houses, and 102 greenhouses were flooded.

During his visit, Minister Kim emphasized the need to strengthen predictive capabilities and reinforce vulnerable river infrastructure to prepare for extreme rainfall events in the era of climate crisis.

On the 22nd, Kim Sunghwan, the newly appointed Minister of Environment, visited the site of the embankment collapse at Sapgyocheon in Yesan County, Chungnam, to inspect the damage and urged that all efforts be made to prioritize safety in the restoration process.

Minister Kim instructed the establishment of a precise prediction system incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and ordered the expansion and joint utilization of monitoring networks among related agencies such as the Korea Meteorological Administration and local governments to minimize surveillance gaps.

Additionally, he directed that reinforcement plans for river facilities, including aging embankments, be established immediately to strengthen vulnerable flood prevention infrastructure. He also stressed the need for focused maintenance of tributary and stream sections, noting that the recent heavy rain caused most of the damage in tributaries and streams rather than the main river.

Minister Kim stated, "Protecting the lives and property of the people from climate disasters is the nation's top priority," and added, "We will establish a thorough flood response system to prepare for the extreme rainfall events that occur every year."