Youngsun Kim, Gwangsan District Councilor in Gwangju: "Aging Drainage Pipelines Must Be Improved to Prevent Flooding"

Need for Drainage Design to Withstand 100mm Downpours per Hour
Urgent Call for Low Impact Development and Expansion of Drainage Systems
Proposal for Climate Crisis Task Force and AI-Based Prediction Systems

Youngsun Kim, a Gwangsan District Councilor in Gwangju (Democratic Party of Korea, representing Suwan-dong, Hanam-dong, and Imgok-dong), has called for comprehensive improvements to urban planning and drainage systems to prevent flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

Youngsun Kim, Gwangsan District Councilor, Gwangju.

During the first plenary session of the 299th temporary meeting of the Gwangsan District Council held on September 4, Kim pointed out, "Due to the impact of the climate crisis, downpours of 100mm per hour are no longer exceptional, yet the sewage and stormwater drainage systems in Gwangsan District are still based on design standards from decades ago." He emphasized, "Urbanization prevents rainwater from seeping underground, which lowers the groundwater level and leads to secondary damages such as sinkholes. The paradigm of urban planning must shift to prioritize flood prevention and water management."

He continued, "It is urgent to introduce Low Impact Development (LID) techniques by installing rain gardens and small-scale retention basins, as well as implementing structural improvements such as river dredging and expanding drainage pipelines. The capacity of drainage pipelines and rivers must be increased to withstand downpours of 100mm per hour."

Kim also stated, "A task force team for responding to the climate crisis should be established to conduct a comprehensive survey of vulnerable areas and develop a phased improvement roadmap, while also strengthening initial response measures." He proposed incorporating modern systems such as AI-based prediction systems, real-time alerts, and designated evacuation routes for residents into the response manual. He urged, "Since heavy rainfall and flooding are recurring threats, please work together to protect the lives and property of district residents so that damages are not repeated."