The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said that with heavy rain advisories and warnings in effect for Daegu, Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong, and North Gyeongsang on the 17th, it will activate level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters starting at 9 p.m.
Yoon Ho-jung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS)), ordered local governments and related agencies to "strengthen their response posture, including rigorous situation management and reporting systems, as the heaviest rainfall of this summer is forecast."
He also ordered close monitoring in areas with preceding rainfall and in regions previously hit by heavy rain and wildfires to prevent damage such as landslides, and, if necessary, to impose controls and carry out preemptive evacuations. In particular, he emphasized strengthening inspections of campgrounds, camping sites, and valleys, and making thorough preparations so authorities can immediately restrict access and evacuate people if dangerous conditions arise.
In addition, he asked for frequent monitoring of semi-basement and aging homes, storm drains, and old reservoirs, and for swift controls as well as activation of resident evacuation systems when risk signs are detected.
He also requested real-time information sharing and joint response among related agencies in areas expected to see torrential rain, and maximum use of emergency disaster texts, village broadcasts, and civil defense broadcasting equipment to promote public safety guidelines.
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook also issued an emergency directive late that night, telling related agencies to maintain emergency readiness and work to ensure public safety. Han said, "Urgently inspect areas that suffered flooding in the previous heavy rain so they do not sustain damage again this time, and take every measure to secure safety," adding, "Given that it is vacation and a holiday period, devise preemptive safety measures such as prompt guidance and evacuation of tourists and campers."
She added, "If torrential rain falls from late at night into the early morning, immediate evacuation is difficult," and said, "When heavy rain or landslide warnings are issued, immediately provide evacuation guidance through disaster text messages and village broadcasts and support rapid evacuation." She particularly urged thorough pre-inspections of drainage pumps, while also calling for utmost care for the safety of on-site responders and facility restoration workers.
Meanwhile, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from the early morning of the 18th, strong rain of 30 to 50 millimeters per hour accompanied by gusts, thunder, and lightning is expected, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and the Chungcheong region. In particular, very heavy rain of 50 to 80 millimeters per hour is expected in the Seoul metropolitan area, inland Gangwon, South Chungcheong, and northern North Chungcheong.