Gyeongju council inspects drought damage in Oidong-eup

The Gyeongju City Council in North Gyeongsang Province visited drought-affected areas Sunday to assess the supply of drinking water and agricultural and industrial water, and to explore measures to minimize damage.

The visit was attended by National Assembly member Kim Seok-ki, council Speaker Im Hwal, Deputy Speaker Choi Jae-pil, council members Kim Young-woo, Kim Yong-gwan and Lee Seong-rak, Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young, and relevant city officials.

The visit was prompted by growing concerns over the depletion of drinking water sources and shortages of agricultural and industrial water following a prolonged severe drought, with officials seeking to assess conditions on the ground and draw up effective support measures.

Rainfall in Gyeongju over the past two months reached only 28 percent of the annual average, while the local reservoir storage rate stood at 44.7 percent — well below the normal level of 68 percent — underscoring the severity of the drought.

Participants first inspected Deokdong Dam, the city's main drinking water source, checking reservoir levels and the household water supply, before moving to Oidong-eup to hear directly from residents struggling with agricultural water shortages.

"The drought is spreading hardship not only to residents' daily lives but also to farming and industrial sites — this is a very serious situation," council Speaker Im said. "We must mobilize every available administrative resource to minimize inconvenience and damage to residents, and the Gyeongju City Council will do its part to help resolve the drought crisis."