Gov't Establishes 'Southern Drought Response Team' as Water Shortages Spread

South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety has announced the creation of a "Southern Region Drought Response Team" to address the escalating drought conditions affecting the southern provinces of Jeolla and Gyeongsang. The move aims to bolster a government-wide response system and enhance on-site assistance for affected communities. The severity of the water shortage is highlighted by critically low reservoir levels, with one reservoir in Miryang, Gyeongnam province, reportedly at 25.2% capacity, below the average of 33.9% for this time of year. The newly formed response team, led by the head of the Ministry's Disaster Safety Management본부장, will include representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Korea Meteorological Administration, the National Fire Agency, and local governments. This team will utilize the National Disaster Management Resource Integrated Management System (KRMS) to identify and deploy available resources, such as water trucks, pumps, and other equipment, from across the country to the drought-stricken areas. Logistics companies like CJ Logistics, Hanjin, BGF Logistics, and Lotte Global Logistics will be involved in transporting necessary equipment. Local governments nationwide have also been asked to provide support. In addition to resource deployment, the government plans to allocate emergency funds to implement water supply measures and launch public awareness campaigns to encourage water conservation among residents. Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-joong pledged to mobilize all available resources to provide tangible support to the public. The drought's impact is widespread, affecting both agricultural and daily water use. Gyeongnam province's agricultural water reserves have fallen to 33% of the average, with Miryang, Geoje, and Haman designated as being in a "severe" drought stage. Some areas are already implementing water rationing for daily consumption. In Jeolla and Gwangju, major water sources like the Dongbok and Pyeongnim dams are under a "caution" advisory, raising concerns about future water availability.

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We will mobilize all available resources from related agencies to provide support that residents can feel.