President Lee: "Mobilize All Available Resources for Summer Disasters... Special Management for Repeatedly Flooded Areas"

President Lee Presides Over Cabinet Meeting
Orders Swift Recovery in Flood-Stricken Areas
Calls for Review on Extending Cooling Center Hours Ahead of Heatwave
Disaster Recovery 93.7% Complete Before Monsoon
"Highest in 10 Years, Reward

President Lee Jae-myung on July 21 ordered local governments to mobilize all available resources to prepare for summer disasters such as torrential rains and heatwaves. He instructed officials to accelerate recovery efforts in areas that have repeatedly suffered flood damage and also requested a review of extending heatwave shelter operating hours to prepare for the extreme heat expected to intensify after the monsoon season.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on July 21, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

In his opening remarks at the 31st Cabinet meeting that day, President Lee stated, "Heavy rain is forecast for this week as well," and called on the government to "do your utmost in managing safety in disaster-prone areas."

He specifically mentioned Andong and Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province, Seocheon in South Chungcheong Province, and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, which were hit by floods both last year and this year, instructing, "Please expedite flood recovery efforts as much as possible."

President Lee noted, "It appears that we have responded to the monsoon season very well so far. Thanks to the hard work of government officials, loss of life has been minimized and responses have been swift." He added, however, "Since the monsoon has not yet ended, we must continue to remain alert and respond accordingly."

He also called for proactive measures against the heatwave expected to follow the monsoon. President Lee said, "Extreme heat is about to intensify," and emphasized that "vulnerable groups who have difficulty accessing cooling facilities will suffer even more during the tropical nights, so please establish thorough countermeasures."

He continued, "Please review whether it is possible to extend the operating hours of cooling shelters, which are usually available only during working hours, at least for the duration of the heatwave. Mayors, county heads, and district heads must prioritize summer disaster countermeasures and deploy all available resources. Above all, the safety of residents is most important," he stressed.

President Lee praised the fact that as of before the monsoon season, the disaster recovery project completion rate reached 93.7%, the highest level in the past decade. He pointed out that although the cycle of damage assessment, review, and budget allocation has typically meant that recovery work drags on until the next monsoon season, this year most projects were completed before the rainy season began.

President Lee commented, "Each ministry and local government responded very well. These actions seem to have significantly reduced the possibility of flood damage and loss of life." He went on to say, "If record-high results are achieved, it would be good to consider selecting a few public officials responsible for the accomplishments and rewarding them."

Meanwhile, regarding the recent fire at the Coupang logistics center in Incheon, President Lee urged, "Do everything possible to minimize harm to on-site personnel and nearby residents."

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