The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced on June 2 that it will visit the construction site office and tower construction areas of the Donghae-Shin Gapyeong power line project in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province, to assess disaster prevention measures ahead of the rainy season.
This initiative comes as localized heavy rainfall has become more frequent due to climate change, increasing the risk of disasters at large infrastructure construction sites, including power lines, roads, and railways. The mountainous terrain of Gangwon Province particularly raises concerns about soil erosion and landslides during heavy rains, underscoring the need for proactive measures before the rainy season.
The ministry aims to ensure that safety measures are effectively implemented at the sites ahead of the expected rainy season, which is scheduled to begin in mid to late June. Recent incidents of soil erosion at certain sections during the tower construction have heightened these concerns.
During the inspection, the ministry will evaluate the status of emergency and permanent restoration efforts at locations where soil erosion has occurred outside designated areas. It will focus on checking drainage maintenance and slope stabilization measures as part of disaster prevention strategies. Additionally, considering the nature of power line construction, which often involves elevated work, the ministry will assess whether safety management protocols are being properly followed at the construction sites.
The ministry will also emphasize thorough site management to prevent safety blind spots, including the monitoring of helicopter transport and elevated work, the provision and usage of safety gear, and communication management for foreign workers.
Lee Jae-sik, the Director of Power Network Policy at the ministry, stated, "Thorough reinforcement work and disaster preparedness must be completed before the rainy season begins. I urge Korea Electric Power Corporation, construction companies, and supervisory teams to work together to operate site patrols and ensure comprehensive measures to prevent disasters and mitigate safety risks during the rainy season."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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