Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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In and around Seoul, the capital of South Korea, the deadliest rainstorms in more than a century have left at least nine people dead and seven people missing. Seoul had a historic downpour breaking the 80 year old record for the rainiest hour with 136.5mm (5.4 inches) rainfall per hour. The prior record was 118.6mm (4.7 inches) set in August 1942, exactly 80 years ago. Seoul has well-built flood protections capable of handling up to 90mm (3.74 inches) of hourly rainfall, but few expected such record level of rain. The downpour specifically hit the Gangnam area and severely affected Seoul’s public transportation system.  As of August 9, 2022, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, at least five individuals had died lately in Seoul, three in the nearby province of Gyeonggi, and one in the province of Gangwon.

Seven were missing, and there have been at least 17 injuries. Three individuals were killed in a flash flood in a semi-basement apartment in Seoul. President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the scene and said he was praying for the victims. He also issued an order to make sure the most vulnerable people were protected.

It’s probable that the poorest people will be among the worst affected, as is often the case. Similar issues have recently arisen in other nations. For example, monsoon floods in some parts of India have repeatedly demolished slums, and in Bangladesh, a large number of villagers have moved to the cities to avoid the increasingly frequent floods. 

In response to public criticism over President Yoon Suk Yeol's handling of the problem, officials promised to take action, but requests for the government to offer more inexpensive housing, improve living conditions in banjihas, or eliminate them altogether have been mounting for years.