The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that Minister Park Sang-woo inspected the rain damage situation in the entire land and transport sector on the afternoon of the 17th at the National Traffic Information Center's situation room located at the government complex in Sejong and discussed joint response measures with relevant agencies.
The inspection meeting was attended by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's flood response situation team, five regional land transport offices, Korea Expressway Corporation, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and other relevant agencies.
They confirmed the weather conditions by region and the status of emergency work, checked the damage status and response plans for road, rail, air, and dwellings in each sector and agency, and focused discussions on the entry blocking facilities for underpass roads and emergency response systems for semi-basement dwellings.
Minister Park emphasized, 'We must minimize inconvenience to the public and ensure that there is no negligence in protecting the lives and safety of the people.'
He further noted, 'With a heavy rain warning issued, especially in the metropolitan area and the Chungcheong region, heavy rainfall continues nationwide, and much rain is expected across the country until this weekend, so all agencies should prioritize "the lives and safety of the people" and focus on proactive response at the scene.'
He also stated, 'Ensure thorough recovery of railway facilities and situation management, and provide quick and accurate information regarding train operations being suspended, while thoroughly checking and preparing to prevent additional damage, and pay special attention to the safety of workers during recovery operations.'
He urged proactive measures, including prompt prior notice for flight cancellations, resolution of post-incident inconveniences, and guidance for alternative flights.
Finally, Minister Park commented, 'Tonight and early tomorrow will be the critical turning point. The entire organization must be familiar with emergency response roles, and each agency head should be in their designated positions to meticulously check the response system.'
Minister Park requested careful attention and guidance for aging or vulnerable infrastructure, especially in privately funded highway sections, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.