A local farmer surveys the wreckage of a strawberry greenhouse in the village, destroyed by recent torrential rains. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHANGWON, July 24 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea grapples with more frequent extreme weather events, local governments are facing heightened responsibility—and legal scrutiny—for their disaster preparedness and response.
Recent court records show that while municipalities have been sued for alleged negligence following natural disasters, they have largely avoided liability. However, growing public and political pressure is pushing local officials to adopt more rigorous safety measures in an era of escalating climate threats.
In the southeastern city of Gimhae, the local government was sued in 2021 by the family of an 80-year-old man who died after being swept away by a swollen stream during heavy rains in July 2020. The man had attempted to return home via a bicycle path along the Haeban Stream, which had overflowed following downpours of up to 34 millimeters per hour.
The plaintiffs argued that the city failed to block access to the flooded path and had not installed sufficient barriers or warning systems. However, both the district and appellate courts ruled in favor of the city, citing existing warning signage and the visibly flooded state of the walkway at the time. The decision became final in February.
A similar case unfolded in South Gyeongsang Province, where the regional government was sued for 800 million won (about $570,000) in damages after a fish farm was inundated during Typhoon Chaba in 2016. The plaintiff claimed the province had ignored repeated requests to reinforce the nearby embankment, which eventually collapsed, leading to the loss of over 318,000 eels.
The village lies buried in the aftermath of recent heavy rain and landslides. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
But after nearly five years of litigation, the courts concluded that the rainfall far exceeded the capacity set in the area’s official flood control plan, and ruled that the government had fulfilled its legal responsibilities under the circumstances. The final ruling was issued in September last year.
While successful lawsuits against municipalities remain rare, the recent spike in natural disasters—like the torrential rain that devastated parts of Sancheong and Hapcheon on July 19—has intensified calls for stronger preventive action. President Lee Jae-myung and central government agencies have urged local leaders to take “excessive” measures if necessary, signaling a policy shift toward over-preparedness rather than reactive response.
In response, city officials say they are ramping up efforts. A Gimhae city spokesperson said the municipality is “continually updating its emergency response manuals and studying case studies from across the country” to strengthen local disaster management systems.
With climate change intensifying the unpredictability of natural hazards, South Korea’s local governments are entering a new phase of accountability—where public expectations are rising even as the legal threshold for liability remains high.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
