Problem many have inquired in the aftermath is definitely how a country with such advanced technology, boasting cutting-edge semiconductor production and a burgeoning space programme , could fail to manage fundamental matters like housing and drainage. Even though this particular year’s rains had been exceptionally heavy, seeing as monsoon rains take place every year, why wasn’t the city prepared?
FLOOD AVOIDANCE BUDGET WAS CUT THE PAST FEW YEARS
In order to answer that, it is instructive to go back towards the last time summertime rains caused wide-spread flooding in Seoul. In July last year, destructive flooding led the city to reevaluate its water management systems and confront growing climate risks.
According to the town government, rains of 30mm or more per hour can cause disasters like floods. Rains of the volume have occurred 3. 4 times annually on average over the past fifty years. In 2011, there was eight such downpours, followed by nine within 2013.
In order to adapt to this rainier future, the city renewed its drainage plus disaster prevention systems. The government added drainage pipes in low-lying areas to prevent flooding caused by surface runoff. It expanded systems of evacuation warning for households within flood-prone areas and made plans to relocate semi-underground casing units.
The particular policy prioritisation associated with buttressing the city for your effects of climate modify took a different course in recent years. The city’s budget for water management and disaster avoidance increased from 431. 7 billion gained (US$326 million) in 2012 to 616. almost eight billion won within 2019. The budget has been then cut in order to 534. 1 billion won in 2020 and 509. 9 billion won within 2021.
These changes coincide along with political reshuffle, right after left-wing Mayor Park Won- died by obvious suicide in 2020 among accusations of sex-related misconduct. He had been replaced by conservative Oh Se-hoon, who also had also offered as mayor through 2006 to last year.
When Wow took office, he redirected budget funds away from projects Park had spearheaded, plus flood prevention had been among the initiatives that lost out.