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President Lee Jae-myung inspects a site damaged by a landslide in Buri Village, Sancheong-eup, Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, on July 21 after heavy rain. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung visited Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province on July 21, where he assessed the damage caused by recent torrential rains that left 10 dead and 4 missing over five days. He called for swift recovery efforts and support for displaced residents.

“Casualties are tragic, but helping displaced residents return to their homes is just as important,” President Lee said, urging the full mobilization of available resources.

Wearing a yellow civil defense uniform, Lee visited the Sancheong-eup Administrative Welfare Center and nearby disaster sites. “Designate this area as a special disaster zone as quickly as possible,” he instructed during the visit.

Lee questioned Deputy County Governor Jeong Young-chul in detail about the scale of the damage, the reasons behind its severity, and whether there were sufficient personnel, equipment, and supplies for rescue operations.

After hearing a briefing, the president walked through areas where mudslides had occurred and facilities were destroyed, personally inspecting the damage under an umbrella.

The Sancheong-eup area experienced concentrated damage after 50 to 60 mm of rainfall per hour fell for five to six consecutive hours on July 19, triggering landslides. Preliminary estimates put the damage at 95 billion won for public infrastructure and 40 billion won for private facilities such as farmland and crops.

Responding to President Lee’s order for a swift designation of a disaster zone, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung said, “We are completing the assessment tonight and preparing to declare it a special disaster zone as early as tomorrow.”

He also responded to Lee’s instructions on helping displaced residents return home, saying, “We’ll provide support beyond what is requested.”

President Lee also offered words of encouragement to rescue workers on site and urged them to do their utmost in searching for the missing. “Please do everything you can for the families who are waiting for their loved ones to come home safely,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said in a briefing.

Lee also emphasized practical aid for evacuees after learning that many had fled without basic necessities. “Support should reflect what people really need,” he said.

The president additionally mentioned special disaster relief grants, prompting the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to announce that support payments to regions in Honam and South Gyeongsang would be forthcoming.

The presidential office also harshly criticized local authorities and disaster response teams for their poor handling of the situation. Spokesperson Kang revealed that in one case, a missing person in Sejong City went unreported for 23 hours, and the local disaster command was unaware of the incident.

“Despite the president’s repeated orders for thorough response, there was a serious delay in recognizing the accident and an alarming lack of reporting. If any serious negligence or misconduct is found, we will pursue accountability and strict measures to prevent recurrence,” Kang said.

“The Lee Jae-myung administration will act quickly to declare special disaster zones and allocate relief grants,” she added. “Local governments must also do everything they can for flood recovery and prevention.”