President Lee Jae-myung directed on the 18th that "all resources and administrative powers that can be used by all ministries and agencies be mobilized centered around the Ministry of the Interior and Safety" to respond to nationwide heavy rains and casualties. On this day, President Lee presided over a meeting to check on the heavy rain at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul and stated, "The nation's primary duty is to protect the lives and safety of the people."
Earlier, the presidential office had planned a town hall meeting with citizens in Busan to discuss the transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. However, as damage from the heavy rain began to occur, the schedule was completely canceled, and President Lee gathered his staff and local government heads for an emergency meeting. President Lee said, "There are cases where casualties occurred due to inadequate responses in situations that could be sufficiently predicted; we must ensure that such incidents do not happen again," and added, "I will deploy sufficient resources for disaster prevention and accident prevention that may seem excessive."
As of 7 a.m. on this day, heavy rain warnings are in effect across the metropolitan area and Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongnam regions, and there have been casualties such as deaths or missing persons at flood sites. Regarding this, President Lee remarked, "The Korea Meteorological Administration seems to be doing its best, but even if it is difficult, please support local governments or national agencies to ensure that weather information is disseminated as quickly as possible so that they can respond adequately in advance."
The emergency meeting was attended by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Environment, the Korea Meteorological Administration, the Korean National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, the Korea Forest Service, among others. From local governments, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, Chungbuk Governor Kim Young-hwan, Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su, Seosan City Mayor Lee Wan-seop, and Osan City Mayor Lee Gwon-jae attended the meeting via video to discuss responses to the heavy rain in their respective regions.
President Lee instructed local governments to maintain a ▲emergency work system ▲conduct pre-inspections and post-support recovery measures, stating, "We must minimize damage, but I hope you will ensure sufficient protective measures and recovery support so that affected citizens can quickly return to their daily lives." He also stated, "Be thoroughly prepared in advance for residents in semi-basements or living alone, and for areas and residents at risk of flooding, landslides, collapses, or subsidence."