Sejong, May 12 - On May 8, Minister of Environment Han Wha-jin visited the Gunnam Dam and Pilseung Bridge in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, to inspect flood response preparedness in the Imjin River basin. This was done ahead of the summer natural disaster countermeasure period, which takes place from May 15 to October 15.

Minister Han received a briefing on the flood response plan for the Imjin River basin at Gunnam Dam. Afterward, the Minister visited the Pilseung Bridge Hoengsan gauging station, located in the northernmost part of South Korea, to observe how the facility is operating.

The Gunnam Dam was constructed to avoid the flooding of the Imjin River brought about by unapproved releases from North Korean dams. The Pilseung Bridge gauging station is responsible for detecting any water discharge from the North Korean border dam. It has a 24-hour monitoring system in place to respond promptly in case of any sudden increase in water levels.

The Imjin River is a river shared by both North and South Korea, with over half of its basin located in North Korea. In order to prevent damage from unauthorized water discharge from North Korean dams, the government is closely monitoring the status of these dams in the north using high-resolution satellite imagery.

From this year, the frequency of taking satellite images of major dams in North Korea will be increased (from once to at least twice a day) to enhance safety in the border area. 

Following her visits to Gunnam Dam and Pilseung Bridge, Minister Han met with representatives of Yeoncheon-gun residents to discuss their opinions on the Imjin River basin crisis system.

At the meeting, the residents acknowledged the necessity of a crisis system. However, they expressed concerns about the potential inconvenience caused by frequent warning s. In response, the Ministry plans to identify and address any resident inconveniences by implementing improvement measures within the year, all while prioritizing the safety of the residents.

Minister Han Wha-jin emphasized, "It is important to not solely depend on inter-Korean cooperation for water security in the downstream areas of shared rivers like the Imjin and North Han Rivers." She further stated, "To prepare for potential summer floods, we will closely monitor the discharge of North Korean dams and improve cooperation among related agencies under the principle that safety requires a somewhat excessive response."

Contact: Chung Hye-yoon, Deputy Director

Water Resources Management Division / +82-(0)44-201-7652

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr