Andong City Provides Emergency Water Supply Vehicles to Sister City Gangneung

Emergency Drought Relief
Repaying Wildfire Solidarity Through Mutual Support

Andong City in Gyeongbuk has launched an emergency support initiative to help its sister city, Gangneung, cope with a severe drought. The city announced on September 8 that, starting from September 5 and continuing until the drought is resolved, it will deploy five 15-ton water supply vehicles to Gangneung.

Andong City in Gyeongbuk Supports Sister City Gangneung with Water Supply Vehicles to Overcome Drought

Recently, Gangneung has faced major disruptions in its domestic water supply due to a record-breaking drought. The water level at Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87% of the city’s domestic water, has plummeted to 15%, significantly increasing inconvenience for local residents. In response, Andong City decided to support Gangneung by sending water supply vehicles to supplement the domestic water supply and directly help reduce inconvenience for citizens.

This support goes beyond simple administrative cooperation and is rooted in mutual reciprocity. When a large wildfire struck Andong in March, Gangneung contributed donations and relief supplies to assist with recovery efforts. Andong City expressed its gratitude for this solidarity and support by actively stepping up to provide drought relief this time.

Kwon Gichang, Mayor of Andong, stated, "I hope that providing water supply vehicles will help alleviate inconvenience for Gangneung citizens and minimize disruptions to essential public services. We will not forget the warm solidarity shown by Gangneung during the wildfire, and we will continue to provide necessary support in the spirit of mutual cooperation."

Andong City plans to use this initiative as an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperative network between sister cities and to establish a robust system for rapid mutual support in times of disaster.

This case demonstrates a ‘mutual solidarity model’ for overcoming disasters, going beyond simple exchanges between local governments. The strengthened cooperation between the two cities in the face of wildfires and drought offers valuable insights for future intergovernmental cooperation policies.