Gijang-gun chief Woo Sung-bin conducted an emergency inspection of areas at risk of drought damage in the county on Wednesday, amid a prolonged heat wave with daytime highs exceeding 35 degrees Celsius and a shortage of rainfall. Woo assessed agricultural water supply conditions and drought response efforts on the ground, and reviewed the county's preparedness for preemptive action against drought damage.
Woo visited a series of at-risk sites, including farmland and Dodokgol Reservoir in Ungcheon-ri, Cheolma-myeon; Yerimha Reservoir in Jeonggwan-eup; farmland in Jangan-ri, Jangan-eup; and farmland in Jukseong-ri, Gijang-eup.
Woo received briefings from relevant civil servants and facility managers on reservoir storage rates, agricultural water supply conditions, ongoing drought response measures and future response plans, and listened to concerns raised by farmers. He also urged the departments involved to push ahead without gaps on water supply support and water-securing measures in preparation for a prolonged drought, and to actively consider tapping the county's own budget — including disaster funds and contingency reserves — if necessary.
Gijang-gun is currently operating water tankers and other resources using its own disaster prevention funds to supply agricultural water. Alongside this, the county plans to use 250 million won ($175,000) in special grant tax allocated for stable water supply to pursue long-term agricultural water security through well development and water tanker operations.
"Drought has a significant impact not only on agriculture but on residents' daily lives, so proactive, on-the-ground response is more important than anything," Woo said.
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