Lee declares special disaster zones in Geoje, parts of Tongyeong after record rains

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday declared special disaster zones in Geoje and parts of Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province, which suffered severe damage from record-breaking torrential rains that recently struck the southern region.

Cheong Wa Dae chief spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that Lee designated all of Geoje and Tongyeong's Sanyang-eup and Bongpyeong-dong as special disaster zones around 6 p.m. Friday, citing extensive damage from heavy rains that lasted from Aug. 15 to Aug. 18.

Local governments designated as special disaster zones will receive additional central government funding to cover a portion of the local share of private and public facility restoration costs, easing their fiscal burden.

Residents in the affected areas will also receive indirect financial and administrative support, including deferrals on national and local tax payments and reductions on public utility charges such as national health insurance premiums, electricity bills and city gas fees.

"The government is mobilizing all available personnel and resources to swiftly address and recover from the damage," Kang said.

She added that the government plans to conduct detailed investigations into other damaged areas not included in Friday's designation and will consider declaring them special disaster zones if they meet the required criteria.