Loopholes in Divided Management Responsibility
Malfunction of Drainage Debris Screen
The Daegu Safety Life Practice Citizens' Alliance (Daegu Anshilryeon) stated on the 5th, "The flooding accident in Nogok-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, caused by the malfunction of a drainage pump on July 17, was not merely a natural disaster. According to the official announcement by the Daegu City investigation team, it was a clear man-made disaster that could have been fully prevented in advance, resulting from comprehensive management failure."
According to the Daegu City investigation, the main cause of the flooding was that the sluice gate of the direct conduit, managed by Daegu City, was left in a malfunctioning state, with only 3% open for an extended period, which blocked direct drainage. Another cause was that the debris screen (a device that filters out floating debris such as trash entering the drainage pump) was clogged and did not function properly.
Additionally, due to the malfunction of the direct conduit sluice gate, water that should have been drained through the conduit rushed into the debris screen inlet at once, preventing the debris screen from working normally. The investigation also found that the debris screen was not activated immediately from the outset.
As a result, rainwater was concentrated on the pump station's debris screen, paralyzing its function. Furthermore, the sluice gate of the high-level drainage channel managed by Buk-gu District Office also failed to close properly, resulting in unnecessary water inflow. It was also revealed that sluice gates and gate pumps at several locations in the pump station were malfunctioning.
Daegu Anshilryeon stated, "Above all, the essence of this accident is that it was a man-made disaster caused by comprehensive management failure, as responsible operation was not achieved due to the division of management between Daegu City and Buk-gu District Office." The organization continued, "This exactly matches the cause of the flooding that occurred in the same area in 2010. At that time, after similar damage, approximately 10 billion KRW was spent to install a high-level drainage tunnel, and a large-scale publicity campaign was launched, claiming that there would be no further damage. Was that not the case?"
Daegu Anshilryeon further stated, "Nevertheless, the installed devices did not function properly, the manual proved useless, and repeated administrative failures once again devastated citizens' lives. Moreover, the lack of discipline in the public sector and the absence of a command system during the vacancy in the mayor's office were also revealed as serious weaknesses in the accident response. In this regard, former Mayor Hong Joonpyo cannot avoid political and administrative responsibility."
Daegu Anshilryeon urged, "The Acting Mayor of Daegu must officially apologize to the citizens, sincerely apologize to those affected by repeated man-made disasters, and publicly commit to preventing recurrence." They also demanded, "Strict disciplinary action and reprimands must be taken against those responsible. Administrative and legal measures must be clearly implemented against those who neglected to address facility malfunctions or failed to establish operational standards and procedures."
Daegu Anshilryeon further stated, "Compensation must be provided to affected residents, and procedures for exercising the right of recourse should be initiated. Prompt compensation must be provided for direct damages from the accident, and administrative agencies and those responsible for operations must be held accountable for recourse accordingly."
Daegu Anshilryeon also reiterated, "Unify the operation and management system of drainage facilities, end the blame-shifting between agencies, and establish an integrated operation and control system to fundamentally prevent similar accidents. Revise disaster prevention infrastructure and establish a comprehensive citizen safety plan in line with the era of climate crisis. Swiftly prepare structural improvement measures such as deep drainage channels and stormwater tunnels, and thoroughly re-examine and improve current disaster prevention facilities."
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