Seoul: In the aftermath of relentless downpours that swept across central and southern South Korea, President Lee Jae-myung has ordered an “all-out” mobilization of national resources to locate the missing and support communities devastated by floods and landslides. The disaster has so far claimed 18 lives, left nine people missing, and forced over 5,600 residents to flee their homes.
Over the past few days, heavy monsoon rains battered large parts of the country, triggering flash floods, destroying infrastructure, and causing severe landslides, particularly in mountainous and semi-urban regions. In Gapyeong, a northeastern area near Seoul, nearly 173 mm of rainfall was recorded within 17 hours a figure unseen since 1998. Several casualties and missing persons have been reported from this region alone, where steep terrain and water-logged slopes made rescue operations particularly challenging.
Roads have collapsed, railway lines have been submerged, and hundreds of homes have been damaged beyond repair. Emergency services have also reported disruptions to electricity and water supply in affected towns, further compounding the distress of those stranded or displaced.
Reacting to the scale of the disaster, President Lee chaired an emergency meeting on Monday and directed all state agencies, including the military, to deploy their full capacity for rescue and relief. “Even if the response appears excessive, every resource must be deployed to find the missing and prevent further casualties,” he stated.
The president emphasized the need for region-specific disaster protocols and held local governments accountable for failures in preemptive safety measures. His message underscored a zero-tolerance stance on administrative negligence during natural calamities.
So far, 2,200 private properties and close to 2,000 public facilities have suffered flood-related damage. Emergency shelters have been set up across multiple provinces, with aid workers distributing food, blankets, and essential supplies. Special attention is being paid to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children, who are now housed in temporary camps set up by disaster management teams.
Fire departments, paramedics, and civil volunteers have joined forces to continue search operations amid mudslides and debris, as several remote villages remain cut off due to collapsed bridges and waterlogged terrain.
Though the rains have eased, meteorologists have now issued heatwave warnings for central and southern provinces. The Korea Meteorological Administration cautioned that extreme temperature fluctuations in the aftermath of monsoons can put additional strain on infrastructure and human health, especially for those without access to cooling or safe shelter.
President Lee also used the crisis to highlight the need for structural reform in climate resilience. “We must accept that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and intense. But we can and must do more to prepare through early warning systems, infrastructure audits, and community drills,” he said.
The president’s proactive engagement with the crisis marks a significant shift in disaster governance, and his administration has pledged a transparent review of all regional disaster preparedness protocols in the weeks ahead.
As South Korea begins the slow process of recovery, the government’s rapid mobilization signals a new era of urgency and accountability in responding to natural disasters fueled by climate volatility.