[Anchor]
Three years ago, an underpass in Osong was flooded, leaving 14 people dead and 16 injured. Although the government made it mandatory to install flood prevention barriers in high-risk underpasses to prevent such tragedies from recurring, many locations have yet to comply.
Morning Zoom-in, reporter Hong Seung-yeon.
[Reporter]
On July 8, when heavy rain warnings were in effect, workers were busy clearing out water and mud.
Over 180mm of rain fell over two days, on July 8 and 9, causing soil and debris to pour into the underpass entrance.
Since April 2024, following the Osong disaster, it has been mandatory to install vehicle access control systems to prevent cars from entering during emergencies. However, police and local government officials had to personally step in to block traffic.
A sign reading "Vehicle Access Control System" stands at the entrance of the underpass.
However, because construction is still underway, the system does not function even when it rains.
The situation is the same at another nearby underpass.
Despite being classified as a flood-prone underpass, the installation of the control system is still in progress.
It has been confirmed that out of 564 underpasses nationwide classified as high-risk for flooding—due to their proximity to rivers or low-lying structures—52 have yet to complete the installation of these mandatory access control systems.
In 29 of these locations, water level sensors that detect flooding are not connected to the access control systems, meaning on-site personnel must manually monitor the situation and operate the barriers themselves.
Ultimately, the issue lies in the securing and allocation of budgets.
[Interview: Kong Ha-sung, Professor of Fire and Disaster Prevention, Woosuk University]
"It is desirable for local governments to prioritize the budgeting and execution of safety-related funds. The central government needs to strengthen its oversight and supervision of local government safety initiatives."
For the first time, the North Chungcheong Provincial Office held a memorial ceremony for the third anniversary of the disaster, bringing together government officials, bereaved families, and survivors.
The families and survivors stated that what is needed after the Osong disaster is not merely simple measures to prevent recurrence, but a fundamental transformation in administration and systems to prevent disasters and tragedies.
Reported by Kim Min-cheol | Video by Jang Hyun-ki | Graphics by Kim Min-young
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