Sejong, June 27 - On May 30 at 2pm, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that they conducted a simulation exercise on flood and water disaster response, referred to as the "Disaster Response Mock Drill for Typhoons and Heavy Rains." The drill took place at the Han River Flood Control Office (HRFCO) in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The Ministry and the HRFCO co-hosted the drill, with participation from various organizations involved in flood response. These included the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the Han River Basin Environmental Office, the Wonju Regional Environmental Office, local governments (Gwanak-gu in Seoul, Yeoju and Yeoncheon-gun in Gyeonggi-do, Yeongwol-gun in Gangwon-do), K-water, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CO., LTD (KHNP).

The exercise was conducted based on the concentrated heavy rainfall situation that occurred from August 7 to 9 last year in the central region, and aimed to enhance the response capabilities to extreme rainfall events. During the 2022 rain event, Dongjak-gu in Seoul experienced accumulated precipitation of 515.5mm over a two-day period, and Sindaebang-dong in Seoul received heavy rainfall of 141.5mm in just one hour.

First, in accordance with the heavy rainfall warning issued by the KMA, a crisis response meeting was held among meteorological and water management agencies to share weather and flood-related information. The decision-making system between flood control centers and K-water regarding dam operations was reviewed. Next, to secure flood control capacity, preliminary dam discharge was conducted. And, under the supervision of the Ministry, vulnerable areas prone to river flooding were inspected. The collaboration system with local governments for the swift mobilization of flood control equipment and materials was also verified.

Afterward, as a result of rising water levels in rivers caused by the activation of the heavy rainfall warning, flood warnings were issued for the Han River basin by the flood control center. The Ministry disseminated flood risk information to support evacuation measures by local governments and implemented emergency measures such as the manipulation of drainage gates and reinforcement of embankments. During this exercise, a particular focus was placed on testing the newly introduced urban flood forecasting system for the Seoul Dorimcheon Stream. The purpose was to evaluate the dissemination and utilization of flood prediction information and to verify the collaboration system with Gwanak-gu in Seoul.

Son Ok-ju, Director-General of the Water Resource Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, stated, "The purpose of this simulation exercise was to enhance the practical response capabilities of flood response agencies during disaster situations." She added, "The Ministry will make every effort to protect the people from floods through close collaboration with relevant agencies."

Contact: Kim Soo-hyun, Deputy Director

Legal Affairs and Regulations Reform Division / +82-(0)44-201-6397