Muan-myeon in Miryang and Sinwon-myeon and Namsang-myeon in Geochang
also designated as special disaster zones
On the afternoon of August 6, the government approved Gyeongnam Province’s repeated requests to designate Jinju City, Uiryeong County, Hadong County, and Hamyang County as additional special disaster zones following last month’s heavy rainfall.
Muan-myeon in Miryang City, as well as Sinwon-myeon and Namsang-myeon in Geochang County, were also newly designated as special disaster zones at the township level.
With this, the total number of special disaster zones in the province related to the recent heavy rainfall has increased to nine, including Sancheong County and Hapcheon County.
According to Gyeongnam Province, last month’s heavy rain caused damages of 10.7 billion won in Jinju City, 12.5 billion won in Uiryeong County, 14.8 billion won in Hadong County, and 11.7 billion won in Hamyang County, each exceeding the threshold for special disaster zone declaration.
Muan-myeon in Miryang City suffered 2.2 billion won in damages, Sinwon-myeon in Geochang County 2.3 billion won, and Namsang-myeon in Geochang County 1.9 billion won, all meeting the requirements for designation.
With the additional designation of special disaster zones, a portion of the disaster recovery costs previously borne by Gyeongnam Province will now be covered by the central government, significantly easing the province’s financial burden.
In addition, residents in the affected areas will receive indirect support, such as tax and insurance premium reductions, as well as deferred payments for utility bills including electricity and gas.
Previously, Gyeongnam Province, led by Governor Park Wansu, had persistently petitioned President Lee Jaemyung and government officials for the additional designation of special disaster zones.
In particular, Governor Park proposed the additional declaration of special disaster zones on four occasions: at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting, during the National Assembly Special Committee on Wildfire Damage’s on-site inspection of flood damage in Sancheong County, at the national governors’ meeting presided over by the President, and during the Central Disaster Damage Joint Investigation Team’s visit to Jinju.
Vice Governor Park Myunggyun and other provincial officials also contributed to the additional designation by holding multiple consultations with central government ministries and communicating the necessity of the new declarations.
Immediately after the announcement of the additional designations, Governor Park stated, "The province will fulfill its responsibility for the prompt recovery of the newly designated areas and support for affected residents."
He added, "We will do our utmost to ensure swift and systematic recovery by working closely with relevant agencies."
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