Hongcheon County Investigates Cause of Landslide; Considers Relocation if Engineering-Based Restoration Is Difficult

【Financial News Hongcheon = Reporter Kim Ki-seop】Relocation is being considered for households affected by the landslide in Mogok-ri, Seomyeon, Hongcheon County, if engineering-based restoration proves difficult.
According to Hongcheon County on the 11th, County Governor Shin Young-jae held a second situation assessment meeting on the 10th to discuss the future of residents in and near the affected area, site control, support for displaced residents, a detailed safety inspection, and restoration and relocation measures. The meeting followed the county’s initial response immediately after the landslide, including evacuating residents, controlling the site, and commissioning an assessment by specialized institutions.
In the long term, the county will determine slope reinforcement and permanent restoration methods based on the results of the detailed safety inspection. If engineering-based restoration is difficult, it will also consider relocating households at risk and allowing natural restoration while maintaining the slope’s current stable condition. The Land and Housing Division is discussing relocation measures in preparation for a potentially prolonged situation.
Three households in the adjacent area may temporarily return, provided there are no abnormal signs such as runoff or falling rocks and the emergency contact system remains in place. However, after their return, residents will be instructed to evacuate immediately to a safe area and report the situation if it rains or any abnormal signs emerge.
The meeting also provided further support for the presumed cause of the landslide. According to a Korea Forest Service investigation involving seven experts from the National Institute of Forest Science and the Korea Institute for Forest Disaster Safety, the slope weakened under the influence of groundwater remaining in rock fissures and weathered zones after prior rainfall. A large rock mass then broke away and fell, after which rocks and soil collapsed and flowed down all at once. Based on these findings, Hongcheon County decided to establish a safety management system using rockfall barriers, control fences, and closed-circuit television (CCTV), while restricting civilian access to dangerous areas.
The roles of each department were also specified. The Disaster and Safety Division will review on-site staffing and safety management measures, while the Forestry Division will maintain the emergency contact system and commission services to conduct safety inspections and formulate restoration plans. The Welfare Division will review relief measures for displaced residents, and the Agricultural Policy Division will examine whether compensation should be provided for restrictions on cultivating farmland.
Hongcheon County Governor Shin Young-jae said, "We will carefully prepare engineering-based restoration and relocation measures based on the results of the detailed safety inspection." He added, "We will closely monitor conditions at the site and swiftly implement the necessary measures to create a safer Hongcheon where residents can feel secure."

[email protected] Kim Ki-seop Reporter