The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that from July 9, it will lower the water level of four multipurpose dams including Chungju Dam by releasing water through the floodgates.

In recent days, a large amount of monsoon rain has fallen mainly in the Chungcheong and Gyeongbuk regions, causing the water levels of the dams to continuously rise. Additional rainfall is expected nationwide on July 9-10 and this weekend (July 13). 

Chungju Dam and Hoengseong Dam in the Hangang region are currently releasing 770 tons and 2.5 tons per second, respectively, through power generation discharge. From 15:00 on July 9, they plan to increase the discharge to 1,100 tons and 40 tons per second by opening the floodgates. In addition, Daecheong Dam in the Geumgang region and Imha Dam in the Nakdonggang region are currently releasing 240 tons and 100 tons per second, respectively, through power generation discharge, and from 14:00 on July 9, they plan to increase the discharge to 1,000 tons and 300 tons per second through floodgate release.

Meanwhile, Boryeong Dam, which is already adjusting its water level by releasing 30 tons per second through its floodgates, increased the discharge to 70 tons per second from 14:00 on July 8. Yeongju Dam, which is currently releasing 17.3 tons per second through power generation discharge, also increased the discharge to 47.3 tons per second through the sediment flushing gates from 14:00 on July 8 to prepare for subsequent rainfall.

The Ministry of Environment has taken measures to control the entry of residents and visitors along the riverbanks downstream through local governments in preparation for the dam floodgate release. They have also strengthened measures to ensure downstream safety by periodically informing the public through disaster safety text messages (CBS) and al.ert broadcasts.

The 20 multipurpose dams under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment currently have a total flood control capacity of 5.37 billion tons, capable of storing an additional 334 mm of rainfall.

Park Jae-hyeon, Deputy Minister of Water Management Policy Office at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “As heavy rain is expected nationwide starting today, we will do our best to prevent downstream damage by ensuring sufficient capacity in multipurpose dams before the heavy rain and maximizing water storage during rainfall through flexible dam operations.”

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