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South Korea: To be or Not to be Disaster Zone |
| Source: |
joongangdaily.joins.com |
| Source Date: |
Thursday, August 04, 2011 |
| Focus: |
ICT for MDGs
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| Country: |
Korea (Democratic People's Republic of) |
| Created: |
Aug 04, 2011 |
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The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced yesterday
that the nine areas hit hardest by last week’s torrential downpours have
been designated special disaster zones, which make them eligible for
state relief money.
The disaster designations were agreed to by
the Public Administration Ministry and the ruling Grand National Party
at the National Assembly yesterday.
The nine areas are
Dongducheon, Namyangju, Paju, Gwangju, Yangju, Pocheon, Yeoncheon and
Gapyeong in Gyeonggi, and Chuncheon in Gangwon.
“Twenty of the
areas damaged by the heavy downpours have been selected to receive aid
for reconstruction,” said Public Administration and Security Minister
Maeng Hyung-kyu.
The minister also pledged to work on countermeasures to prepare for future climate-change-related disasters.
However,
Seocho District in southern Seoul, home to Mount Umyeon and its eight
landslides that killed 18 people, is not yet considered a special
disaster zone, although it may be named one soon.
“Seocho
District is not yet included among the nine, but the amount of the
damage is currently being calculated,” said Maeng. “The amount of damage
is likely to exceed 9.5 billion won [$9 million], in which case it will
be designated a special disaster zone.”
In fact, some Seocho residents don’t want the designation, worrying that their real estate values will drop.
“Houses
adjacent to Mount Umyeon can face a drop in real estate prices,” said a
real estate agent surnamed Kim, 60, in Bangbae-dong in Seocho District,
“not immediately but in the next several years.”
Some even argue that government funds aren’t necessary for Seocho as it is one of the wealthiest districts in the nation.
Choi
Ho-jeong, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, said it was
“selfish” for Seocho residents to resist aid for fear of their real
estate values falling.
“The amount of damages may reach 100
billion won, and the Seocho District Office only has a total budget of
350 billion won,” he said. “If the district doesn’t get included, it
could face difficulties.”
In special disaster zones, a maximum of 90 percent of reconstruction expenses will be covered by the government.
Residents
of the special disaster zones will receive tax cuts and will be allowed
to make delayed payments on taxes, national health insurance and
national pension bills.
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South Korea: To be or Not to be Disaster Zone The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced yesterday that the nine areas hit hardest by last week’s torrential downpours have been designated special disaster zones which make them eligible for state relief money
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