Over 250 Billion Won in Damages in 2020 Alone
Naju and Damyang Hit by Rainfall Exceeding 100-Year Frequency
Flood Risk Area 330 Times the Size of Yeouido
Elderly Make Up 33%... Aging Infrastructure Also a Concern
Jeonnam Research Insti
As instances of 'extreme heavy rainfall' continue to recur, there are growing calls for the urgent expansion of customized flood defense measures and early warning systems in the Jeonnam region, which has a high proportion of elderly residents and aging infrastructure.
On the morning of the 4th, merchants are carrying out flood damage restoration work at Hampyeong Cheonji Traditional Market in Hampyeong County, Jeollanam-do. Hampyeong received about 170mm of rain during the day before, when a heavy rain advisory was issued. Yonhap News
According to the 'JNI Issue Report' (Analysis of Flood Risk Characteristics and Policy Directions in Jeonnam) published by the Jeonnam Research Institute on August 4, the total damage caused by natural disasters in Jeonnam over the past 10 years (from 2014 to 2023) amounted to 428.1 billion won. Of this, 328.4 billion won, or 77%, was due to heavy rainfall. Notably, in 2020 alone, damages reached 250.4 billion won, and in the most recent five years (2019-2023), the damages accounted for 96% of the total.
The damage statistics are based on the '2023 Disaster Yearbook' published by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in January this year. The report emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures, citing that last month, record-breaking rainfall exceeding the 100- to 200-year frequency occurred?418mm in Naju, 381mm in Damyang, and 338mm in Hampyeong?followed by another instance of extreme heavy rainfall at the beginning of this month.
The potential flood risk area in Jeonnam is 961 square kilometers, which is 330 times the size of Yeouido (2.9 square kilometers), making it the fifth largest in the country. Approximately 136,000 people live in this area, accounting for 7.6% of Jeonnam's total population, and among them, the proportion of elderly residents exceeds 33%.
The institute analyzed, "The disaster response capacity of vulnerable groups is limited, and urban areas such as Mokpo, Yeosu, and Suncheon are structurally at risk due to the concentration of aging buildings and underground structures."
Heavy rain warnings were issued, and on the morning of the 4th, 142.1mm of heavy rain fell per hour, flooding the underground parking lot of the Gun Health Center in Muan County, Jeonnam, where staff members are conducting drainage work. Photo by Yonhap News
The institute proposed the following policy tasks: ▲ Strengthening defensive infrastructure and expanding early warning systems for disaster-vulnerable groups and facilities ▲ Reinforcing design standards for key sections of national and local rivers and establishing coastal flood defense measures ▲ Conducting region-specific flood risk assessments and building an integrated disaster management platform based on Jeonnam's unique data.
Yoo Insang, Associate Research Fellow at the Jeonnam Research Institute, stated, "It is necessary to promptly establish comprehensive infrastructure and a scientific management system to protect vulnerable groups," and added, "Now is the time to build an integrated flood management system covering prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for the safety of local residents."
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