Jeon Jinsook Calls for Stronger State Responsibility in Preparing for Climate Disasters

Main Proposals for Amendments to the River Act and Building Act
"Prompt Declaration of Gwangju as a Special Disaster Zone"

Jin Jinsook, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

Jeon Jinsook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Buk-gu Eul in Gwangju, announced on July 28 that she has introduced amendments to the River Act and the Building Act aimed at strengthening the state's responsibility in preparing for climate disasters.

In 2020, local river maintenance projects were excluded from state-funded programs, shifting the entire budgetary burden for these projects to provincial governors. This change has raised concerns, as local rivers in municipalities with lower fiscal capacity have suffered more flood damage.

In fact, the local river maintenance rate stands at 49.2%, which is significantly lower than the 81.7% maintenance rate for national rivers. As a result, in 2023, flood damages amounted to 17.6 billion won for national rivers, whereas local rivers suffered damages totaling 162.7 billion won.

The proposed amendment to the River Act designates major local rivers with strong connections to national rivers as "nationally supported local rivers." It stipulates that the state will directly undertake river construction projects for these rivers, thereby protecting citizens from flood damage and reinforcing state responsibility.

The proposed amendment to the Building Act requires the installation of flood prevention facilities?such as flood barriers, as stipulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport?in underground structures located in disaster-prone or flood-risk areas, including disaster prevention zones and areas designated for natural disaster risk improvement. The amendment also aims to provide full or partial financial support for these installations, ensuring the safety of residents in disaster-vulnerable housing from heavy rainfall and climate disasters.

Jeon emphasized, "Unpredictable climate disasters are no longer 'exceptional events.' They will occur more frequently, on a larger scale, and with greater unpredictability in the future. We must shift the disaster response paradigm and strengthen state responsibility. In addition, Gwangju City should be promptly declared a special disaster zone."