Full-Scale River Improvement and Restoration Project
233.3 Billion Won Invested to Recover from Heavy Rain Damage
Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province will launch a full-scale river improvement and restoration (function restoration) project worth a total of 233.3 billion won, following unprecedented damage such as embankment destruction and complete overflow caused by record-breaking heavy rains that lasted from July 16 to July 20. This initiative aims to protect the lives and property of residents and to prevent the recurrence of similar damage.
This heavy rainfall was a sudden downpour caused by climate change, with precipitation levels exceeding previously planned frequencies. As the existing rivers reached their capacity limits, numerous embankments were destroyed and overflow occurred along the entire length of the rivers. This led to severe damage to residential and agricultural areas, as well as the destruction of roads and bridges, resulting in significant losses to both infrastructure and livelihoods. In particular, residents living near the rivers lost their homes and suffered extreme hardships as their means of livelihood were paralyzed.
From the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the county responded swiftly and worked closely with central government agencies to secure substantial national funding. As a result, a total project budget of 233.3 billion won was secured for the restoration of 11 rivers in five heavily affected areas: Gahoe-myeon, Samga-myeon, Ssangbaek-myeon, Yongju-myeon, and Daebyeong-myeon. This funding provides the financial foundation not only for simple restoration, but for a fundamental recovery project that will comprehensively strengthen the functions of the rivers.
Before the allocation of restoration funds, Hapcheon County will actively utilize the local contract system, which allows for priority contract signing, to place orders for basic and detailed design services for the targeted rivers by the end of August. The selection of service providers will be completed in September, and all administrative procedures will be finalized by March 2026, after which the full-scale improvement and restoration project will commence.
Through this project, the county plans to widen the rivers and raise the embankments to sufficiently secure the cross-sectional flow capacity, thereby establishing a structural foundation that can safely respond to unpredictable heavy rain events in the future. Rather than merely restoring damaged facilities to their original state, the project will significantly enhance disaster prevention functions based on the river master plan.
Additionally, the project will incorporate sustainable maintenance measures, aiming to protect residents' lives and property while creating a safe river environment that harmonizes with the local natural surroundings. Through this restoration project, Hapcheon County intends to establish a foundation for residents to live with peace of mind and to build a community resilient to disasters.
County Governor Kim Yooncheol stated, "This heavy rain damage was not simply a natural disaster, but a new warning in the era of climate change," and added, "This improvement and restoration project is our top priority for protecting the lives and property of residents and is a fundamental measure to prevent the recurrence of similar damage."
He further emphasized, "Ensuring the safety of our residents is the most important responsibility of the administration, and we will continue to do our utmost to prevent the recurrence of disasters and to create a safe local community through prompt and proactive responses."
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