The Korea meteorological Administration said on the 16th that, in addition to the Gangwon region experiencing an "extreme drought," "meteorological drought" has occurred in parts of Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, and on Jeju Island. A meteorological drought advisory is issued for areas where the amount of rain over the past six months is 65% or less of the normal level. Depending on the severity of the drought, it is classified into four stages: "attention-caution-alert-severe." Currently, Gangneung, Donghae, and Samcheok in Gangwon are under "alert," Taebaek, Sokcho, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon, and Yangyang are under "caution," and the remaining areas are under "attention."
There are various drought terms. There is also "agricultural water drought" and "living and industrial water (household and industrial water) drought." Currently, agricultural drought is at the "severe" stage in Gangneung and Samcheok in Gangwon, and at the "alert" stage in Yangyang in Gangwon and Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang, among other areas. In Gangneung, Gangwon, where household water use was recently restricted to one quarter, living and industrial water drought is at the "severe" stage.
The responsible ministries also differ depending on the type of drought. Meteorological drought is managed by the Korea meteorological Administration, agricultural drought by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and living and industrial water drought by the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety compiles this information and issues monthly drought forecasts and warnings for each type.
These terms feel unfamiliar to the general public. A person surnamed A living in Donghae, Gangwon, said, "They say Donghae is in a drought because it has rained unusually little this year, but there are no tap water restrictions like in nearby Gangneung," and added, "It turns out that by the criteria for 'living and industrial water drought,' Donghae does not qualify. The terms are so complex and difficult that it is confusing whether it is a drought or not."
The government explains that there is a reason for managing droughts separately by type. Meteorological drought serves as a "leading indicator" for all water-use droughts. An official at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, "No matter how well water is managed, in the end what matters is whether precipitation is low or high," and noted, "Based on the basic presence of meteorological drought, we decide how to manage agricultural water and living and industrial water."
Agricultural drought is an indicator needed from April to October, the farming season. It considers the amount of water needed for rice paddies and dry fields. When the normal reservoir storage rate is 70% or less, or the soil available moisture content is 60% or less, an "attention" advisory is issued. Currently, 14 areas in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Chungcheong, North Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, and South Gyeongsang are experiencing agricultural drought, but it is not highly significant because the busy farming season has ended.
Living and industrial water drought is a criterion needed when managing the amount of water used by households or corporations. It is issued when river or water resources facility levels are lower than in normal years. However, the issuance of an advisory does not necessarily mean disruptions to water supply. This year, with less rain than usual at Andong Dam and Imha Dam, a "caution" stage was issued for 16 cities and counties in Busan, Daegu, North Gyeongsang, and South Gyeongsang, which are supplied by these dams, but thanks to preemptively drawing water from nearby dams, living and industrial water is being supplied normally.
An official at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, "Extremely severe living and industrial water droughts like Gangneung, Gangwon this year have occurred only once each in recent years, in 2018 and 2022, and are very intermittent."
Meanwhile, in its September drought forecast, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety projected that over the next three months, Gangneung in Gangwon will continue to face a "severe" stage of living and industrial water drought, and Gangneung and Samcheok will remain at the "severe" stage for agricultural drought. The "alert" stage of meteorological drought currently in effect for Gangneung, Donghae, and Samcheok is expected to persist for one month. Gangneung is forecast to drop to "caution" in two months and to "attention" in three months.