President Lee holds emergency meeting in response to heavy rains

And in light of that weather forecast President Lee Jae Myung canceled a scheduled town hall and convened instead an emergency response meeting.

Our Presidential Office Correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports.

Disasters may be inevitable, but their damage, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says, can be reduced with thorough preparation.

That was the key message from the President on Friday as he convened an emergency meeting in response to the heavy rains.

"The state's top duty is to protect the lives and safety of its people. We must not hesitate to deploy every necessary resource, even if it feels excessive, to prevent accidents and minimize damage."

With downpours battering the country for days and already claiming several lives, President Lee postponed a scheduled town hall in the southeastern city of Busan and instead visited the National Disaster and Safety Status Control Center in Seoul.

Emphasizing preemptive action, he instructed the Korea Meteorological Administration to issue timely alerts tailored to each region.

"We need thorough preemptive measures in vulnerable areas and for at-risk residents, including those living in semi-basement homes, those living alone, and regions prone to flooding, landslides, collapses, or sinkholes."

The President also urged local governments to stay in full emergency mode and carry out post-disaster support and recovery efforts without delay.

He then received updates on damage assessments and response measures from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local authorities.

"President Lee spoke to the mayor of Osan in detail about why the road wasn't fully closed off despite prior warnings from residents before the retaining wall collapsed."

The collapse on Wednesday killed a man trapped in his vehicle.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.