The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that as part of checking dam operation plans in preparation for this year’s flood season (June 21 to September 20), Minister Han Wha-jin will visit the Seomjin River Dam (located in Gangjin-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do) on the afternoon of June 19.

The Seomjin River Dam, completed in December 1965, is South Korea’s first multipurpose dam with a total storage capacity of 466 million cubic meters (m3). Four years ago in the summer of 2020, from August 7 to 9, rainfall exceeding a 200-year frequency (340 mm over 48 hours) occurred in the Seomjin River Dam watershed. At that time, to reduce damage to downstream rivers, the Seomjin River Dam exceeded its flood water level of 197.7 meters by approximately 0.19 meters.

Minister Han Wha-jin instructed officials from Flood Control Offices, the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), and others to thoroughly prepare, emphasizing that situations similar to the summer of 2020 could occur at any time. She plans to personally inspect dam gates and facilities on site.

The 20 multipurpose dams under the jurisdiction of the Ministry, including the Seomjin River Dam and Soyang River Dam, stored approximately 9.5 billion cubic meters (m3) of water since last year’s flood season (as of January 16 this year), ensuring stable water supply for domestic and industrial use. Particularly noteworthy, unlike last year, there were no droughts across the nation this spring.

As of June 19 this year, water levels at the 20 multipurpose dams nationwide are maintained below the limited water levels in flood season. They have secured a flood control capacity* totaling 6.14 billion cubic meters (m3), which is approximately three times the designed flood control capacity of 2.18 billion cubic meters (m3), ensuring ample reservoir capacity before the flood season.

* Storage capacity between the flood water level and the limited water level in flood season of a dam, where rainfall can be stored during floods

Minister Han plans to instruct relevant agencies such as K-water to utilize pre-secured flood control capacity during concentrated heavy rainfall events to store as much precipitation as possible in dams for downstream safety. When downstream river levels stabilize, they will direct the dams to release water to prepare for subsequent rainfall, ensuring proactive dam operations.

In addition, during dam releases, there will be mandatory advance notification* to downstream areas. Minister Han will also collaborate** with local governments and relevant agencies to directly inspect the conditions of flood-prone areas and downstream rivers on-site. The Minister plans to devote all efforts to ensuring national safety.

* During dam releases, K-water implements advance notifications, including patrols in downstream areas, al.ert broadcasts through speakers and sirens, and disaster al.ert messages (cell broadcasting service, CBS).

** During dam discharge periods, additional measures are implemented, including joint patrols by local governments and K-water along downstream rivers, disaster al.ert messages (CBS) managed by local governments, and al.ert broadcast patrol cars.

Minister Han Wha-jin emphasized, “This year, with the anticipated strong monsoon, there is a high likelihood of localized heavy rainfall events. Therefore, the flood control role of dams is even more crucial.” She added, “We will maximize the use of dam reservoirs to ensure the safety of flood-prone areas and downstream regions to the best of our ability.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com