Governor Park Wansu: "Province, Cities, and Counties Must Work as One Team for Rain Damage Recovery"

"The province and the cities and counties must work as a single team for effective recovery to be possible."

Park Wansu, Governor of South Gyeongsang Province, made this statement on July 24 during the 'South Gyeongsang Province and Sancheong County Heavy Rain Damage Recovery Status Inspection Meeting' held at the Sancheong County Office.

Governor Park stated, "We will listen directly to the difficulties on site and South Gyeongsang Province will provide swift support," and emphasized, "South Gyeongsang Province will actively reflect Sancheong County's requests and do our utmost to ensure that residents can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."

Park Wansu, governor of Gyeongnam Province, is presiding over the "Gyeongnam Province and Sancheong County Heavy Rain Damage Recovery Status Inspection Meeting" held at Sancheong County Office. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

At the meeting, Governor Park issued key directives regarding the recovery process, including: resolving housing issues for disaster victims; prompt allocation of reserve funds; efficient management of resources such as personnel and equipment; simultaneous implementation of emergency and permanent recovery; review of regulations on mountain area development activities; prevention of heat-related illnesses among recovery personnel; and addressing support blind spots such as strawberry seedling farms.

Among these, he identified "the housing issue for disaster victims as the most urgent" and made housing support the top priority.

Governor Park said, "The provision of temporary shelters for disaster victims is the most pressing need right now," and instructed, "Prepare thoroughly so that temporary facilities can prevent secondary damage from typhoons or other events."

He also ordered, "Immediately deploy the provincial reserve funds to focus all efforts on emergency recovery, and efficiently allocate available resources such as personnel and equipment to the field."

A 'Gyeongnam Province and Sancheong County Heavy Rain Damage Recovery Status Inspection Meeting' was held at the Sancheong County Office in Gyeongnam. Photo by Gyeongnam Province

Regarding the restoration of roads that were washed away or damaged and areas affected by landslides, he stated, "Distinguish between emergency and permanent recovery, pursue both simultaneously, and work systematically in cooperation with relevant agencies such as the Korea Forest Service."

He added, "Landslides have occurred in areas where mountains have been damaged," and said, "We must also consider institutional improvements such as restrictions on valley and mountain area development activities in the future."

Additionally, he instructed thorough preventive measures to protect field personnel, saying, "Take all necessary steps to prevent heat-related illnesses among recovery workers, including public officials and volunteers."

For damage to strawberry breeding facilities that are not eligible for national support, he called for the development of provincial-level support measures.

The meeting was attended by Governor Park, Sancheong County Mayor Lee Seunghwa, Deputy County Mayor Jeong Youngcheol, and officials from both the provincial and county offices.

The participants focused on discussing field-oriented response measures, including the deployment of recovery personnel and equipment, maintenance of roads and rivers, prevention of landslides, and protection measures for disaster victims.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (right), is inspecting the major damage sites caused by heavy rain in Sancheong County. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

Prior to the meeting, Governor Park inspected major disaster sites, including Bangmok-ri in Danseong-myeon, Sancheong County, where houses were buried by landslides, as well as Buri and Mogori, which suffered significant damage.

He encouraged volunteers and recovery workers and visited residents to listen to their concerns on site.

In particular, he checked the section of National Road No. 3 in Oesong-ri, Sinan-myeon, where all traffic had been suspended due to soil runoff but one lane in each direction was reopened after three days, to confirm whether the area's connectivity had been restored.

South Gyeongsang Province plans to mobilize all available personnel and equipment for swift recovery in the areas affected by the recent heavy rain, based on a cooperative system between the province and the county, while continuing the search for missing persons.