BOSEONG — Boseong County in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is drawing attention for its disaster preparedness after extreme rainfall of 124.6 millimeters per hour on August 30 caused no casualties or property damage. The hourly rainfall was the fourth-highest ever recorded in South Korea, exceeding the 124.5 millimeters observed in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, on August 17.
The county attributes the absence of major damage to disaster prevention projects carried out over the past eight years. Boseong has invested a combined 251.167 billion won in 246 projects across eight areas, reflecting a push by County Chief Kim Chul-woo, who has made resident safety the centerpiece of the county administration.
The turning point came with torrential rain on July 1, 2018. Monsoon rains combined with the northward movement of Typhoon Prapiroon dumped a cumulative 327.5 millimeters on Boseong from the previous day through 10 a.m., with a peak hourly rate of 81 millimeters. The downpour flooded the underground parking garage of an apartment complex in Boseong town, submerging 52 vehicles. The damage was severe enough that Boseong became the first town- or township-level jurisdiction in the country to be declared a special disaster zone.
Kim postponed his inauguration ceremony that day and went straight to the disaster site. The county subsequently shifted from a response model centered on post-disaster recovery to a prevention-focused disaster management system that removes risk factors in advance.
To prevent urban flooding, the county carried out a flood prevention project for priority sewer management areas in Boseong town, investing 26.332 billion won. The work expanded the town's stormwater handling capacity and strengthened its flood response infrastructure.
Since 2025, the county has also focused on dredging pipelines and repairing storm drains, clearing accumulated soil and sediment before the rainy season so drainage facilities function properly during heavy downpours.
In river management, the county carried out 150 maintenance projects worth 8.6 billion won, clearing sediment and obstructions and maintaining embankments and river structures to keep water flowing during heavy rain. In forested areas, it completed 70 erosion control projects worth 14.3 billion won to prevent landslides and soil runoff and to reduce the risk of secondary damage from debris entering roads and rivers.
The county also upgraded chronically flooded areas and disaster-prone zones. Through a 98.8 billion won program to improve districts at risk of natural disasters, it addressed hazards in the Boseonggang 1 district in Gyeombaek-myeon, the Ilbong district in Boknae-myeon, the Gangsan 1 district in Eungchi-myeon and the Bonghwa district in Boseong-eup.
Seven reservoirs at risk of disaster and six steep slopes were also repaired. In Beolgyo-eup, the county is carrying out a 72.5 billion won comprehensive storm and flood improvement project for the Bongnim and Yangchon residential areas, aimed at addressing hazards across the neighborhoods, including drainage facilities and low-lying land.
"It is more important to identify and remove risk factors in advance than to repair damage after a disaster occurs," Kim said. "We will continue to build a tightly woven, preemptive disaster response system so residents can live with peace of mind."
Boseong has been recognized for its disaster management capabilities, having been named a top-performing agency seven times in disaster management evaluations conducted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
