Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Kang-seok made flood prevention facilities and vulnerable areas the focus of his first field inspection since taking office in the ninth round of local elections, prioritizing residents' safety from the outset.
With heavy rain forecast for the central region this week, Seo visited the Mongchon No. 1 rainwater pumping station, a residential neighborhood in Songpa-dong and a flower village in succession Tuesday morning.
His first stop was the Mongchon No. 1 rainwater pumping station, a facility that rapidly channels stormwater into nearby waterways during heavy downpours to prevent surrounding areas from flooding.
Seo checked each pump individually to confirm it was functioning properly, then closely examined the trash screens — devices that filter out branches and debris carried downstream. He urged staff to stay vigilant to prevent rain damage.
His second stop was a residential area in Songpa-dong, where he inspected flood barrier installations at semi-basement homes. The district supports installation of flood barrier boards on semi-basement windows and indoor backflow valves. Last year, the district installed 1,420 meters of flood barrier boards and 920 backflow valves. As of July this year, it has added a further 670 meters of boards and 470 valves.
The third stop was the flower village, where Seo inspected flood barrier installations and the site of a fire that broke out in April, reviewing safety conditions again ahead of the monsoon season.
"Flood damage in summer can be reduced in proportion to how well we prepare," Seo said. "Before the rain comes, I will focus the district's full administrative capacity on inspecting facilities one by one and checking vulnerable spots, so that residents can get through the summer with peace of mind."
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