South Korean dams face 'warning' stage amid severe drought

South Korea is grappling with a severe drought, especially impacting its southern provinces. The 운문댐 (Unmun Dam) has already entered the 'severe' drought stage, a critical level that prompts consideration of restricted water supply. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with projections indicating that 밀양댐 (Milyang Dam) and 섬진강댐 (Seomjin River Dam) could also be elevated to the 'warning' stage by the beginning of August if rainfall remains insufficient.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy held an emergency meeting to address the drought. Officials from the Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Water Resources Corporation, and regional governments reviewed current rainfall, forecasts, and water supply strategies for major dams. The recent rainfall in the southern region has been significantly below average, with the past month's precipitation in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas reaching only about 70.8% of the normal level.

While the government assures that current water supply for daily and industrial use is stable through measures like reducing water for river maintenance and securing alternative sources from the 낙동강 (Nakdong River) and 금호강 (Geumho River), prolonged drought could necessitate activating emergency supply plans. For 밀양댐 (Milyang Dam) and 섬진강댐 (Seomjin River Dam), which are currently at 'caution' and 'interest' stages respectively, the government is considering alternative water sources and a potential reduction in agricultural water use to maintain supplies without disrupting farming.

Minister Kim Sung-hwan emphasized the government's commitment to continuous monitoring of major dams and preparedness. "We will continuously monitor the status of major dams and thoroughly check the preparedness of each agency until the drought situation eases, to ensure there are no disruptions in water supply," he stated. The focus remains on managing existing resources and preparing for potential escalation of the crisis.

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We will continuously monitor the status of major dams and thoroughly check the preparedness of each agency until the drought situation eases, to ensure there are no disruptions in water supply.