Even after spending 10 billion won...Landslides mostly outside of 'vulnerable' designation

[Anchor]
Since the 2011 Woomyeonsan Mountain landslide in Seoul, the Korea Forest Service has designated and managed landslide-prone areas to prevent damage.

However, landslides that lead to large property damage as well as human life are repeated every year.

The management policy of areas vulnerable to landslides, which has spent more than 10 billion won, has been put on the cutting board.

Reporter Hong Sung-wook covered it.

[Reporter]
As the earth and sand swept down, the family house was pushed down several tens of meters. See now.The Syfy refrigerator is ruined, and the vehicle is swept away. Rescue work is in full swing, and what you see now is the roof of the house.

A landslide caused by torrential rain engulfed a house, killing one resident in his 70s who could not get out.

This is the site of a landslide. Sediment and uprooted trees hit the road connecting the house to the village. The scene has literally turned into a heap.

A landslide occurred in Cheongil-myeon and Dunnae-myeon, Hoengseong, Gangwon-do in August 2022.

Both occurred outside the landslide-prone areas designated by the Forest Service.

From 2021 to last month, the Korea Forest Service designated 25,639 areas vulnerable to landslides.

The survey cost more than 10 billion won.

Nearly 5,000 landslides occurred during the same period, but only 338 landslides occurred in vulnerable areas designated by the Korea Forest Service.

The remaining 4,570 cases, or 93%, occurred outside landslide-prone areas.

In particular, of the 2,410 landslides that occurred last year, only 73 occurred in vulnerable areas, accounting for only 3%.

The Board of Audit and Inspection also pointed out that the Korea Forest Service neglected its management work, such as not designating areas with high risk of landslides as vulnerable areas.

[Yoon Joon-byung / Democratic Party member: It is also a proof (opposite evidence) that the government-managed landslide risk area is misselected or managed. This needs to be well managed.

In particular, soil leaks and landslides during the rainy season are becoming more frequent due to forest development, such as solar power generation facilities and the creation of excessive rural housing complexes.

In order to prevent landslide damage, more thorough investigation and management are required.

I'm YTN's Hong Sung Wook.

Reporter: Hong Do-young, Lee Sang-eun