Korea Local Finance Association to Support Sinkhole and Pothole Prevention with 500 Million Won for Four Metropolitan Governments

Korea Local Finance Association Takes Proactive Steps Against 'Everyday Disasters'

Four Metropolitan Governments Selected, Each to Receive 125 Million Won in Support

Preventing Sinkholes and Potholes with AI and Intelligent Robots

Jung Sunyong: "Proactive Prevention of Sinkholes and Potholes Is the Top Priority"

With growing concerns over safety accidents caused by sinkholes and potholes across the country, the Korea Local Finance Association will provide a total of 500 million won in support to four metropolitan governments as part of efforts to prevent disasters in daily life. This initiative centers on utilizing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent robots to proactively prevent disasters.

On July 8, the Korea Local Finance Association announced that, through an open call for the ‘2026 Disaster Prevention Activities Support Project for Local Governments,’ it has selected Busan Metropolitan City, Daegu Metropolitan City, Gwangju Metropolitan City, and Gyeonggi Province as the final recipients. Each selected local government will receive 125 million won, totaling 500 million won in support.

This project aims to prevent disasters directly linked to daily life, such as ground subsidence (sinkholes) and road damage (potholes), in advance, while also expanding disaster safety management systems that utilize digital technologies like AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The Korea Local Finance Association selected the recipients through a comprehensive review of the appropriateness, effectiveness, and sustainability of the projects, conducted by an evaluation committee composed of academic experts and both internal and external specialists in the field of disaster and safety.

The selected projects include the introduction of intelligent robots for sewage pipeline inspections and the establishment of AI-based systems for analyzing early signs of ground subsidence, utilizing advanced technologies for prevention. In addition, projects closely related to resident safety and infrastructure management, such as improving road surfaces around bus stops and inspecting pavement near aging structures, have also been included as supported initiatives.

The Korea Local Finance Association explained that these projects were deemed most aligned with the purpose of the call, which is to prevent ‘everyday disasters.’

The selected local governments will carry out their projects by the second half of this year, after which the Korea Local Finance Association will provide funding following project completion and settlement procedures, and hold ceremonies to present the funds in each region.

The Korea Local Finance Association expects that, through this support project, it will not only enable the early identification of high-risk areas and prevent safety accidents, but also reduce the occurrence of incidents related to disaster recovery insurance for building facilities and liability insurance for public facilities, thereby further enhancing disaster management capabilities of local governments.

Jung Sunyong, President of the Korea Local Finance Association, stated, “Because ground subsidence (sinkholes) and road damage (potholes) are representative daily-life disasters that people experience, it is especially important for local governments to take proactive preventive measures,” adding, “The association will continue to expand support to strengthen the safety management capabilities of its member local governments.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.