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Citizen Safety Comes First: Busan Metropolitan City Launches the 9th Elected Administration with an On-site Monsoon Preparedness Inspection

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Chun Jae-soo) today (July 2) launched the first official citizen safety initiative of the 9th elected administration by visiting the site of a hazardous house collapse in Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, to inspect the status of resident evacuations and on-site response measures. Later in the afternoon, the Mayor chaired a special inspection meeting on monsoon preparedness at the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at City Hall, where the overall flood and storm response system was comprehensively reviewed.

At 10:30 a.m. today (July 2), Mayor Chun visited the site of the hazardous house collapse in Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, which had occurred at 5:29 a.m. the same day, to personally inspect the cause of the collapse, emergency response measures, and the status of resident evacuations. During the visit, he closely reviewed the risk of additional collapse, demolition plans, and measures to ensure the safety of nearby residents, emphasizing thorough safety management to prevent any further damage.

The site had already been identified as a hazardous residential property through inspections of disaster-vulnerable facilities in April 2025 and inspections of aging retaining walls and embankments conducted in preparation for the rainy season in June 2025. In December 2025, Busan Metropolitan City requested the Korea Asset Management Corporation, the landowner, and the building owner to carry out urgent safety measures.

In February 2026, an on-site inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed serious structural defects, including numerous cracks in the lower and central sections of the stone retaining wall and soil erosion behind the wall caused by water seepage. Based on additional inspections by private experts and a situation assessment meeting held in June, Seo-gu decided to evacuate residents.

Accordingly, Seo-gu relocated one resident to a nearby motel on June 11. On July 1, evacuation orders were also issued for two residents from two households living near the collapsed house.

Because these precautionary evacuations had already been completed, no casualties occurred when the retaining wall collapsed this morning (July 2). Immediately afterward, Seo-gu additionally evacuated five nearby residents to the Amnam-dong Community Service Center.

Seo-gu had completed consultations with the building owner on June 19 regarding demolition of the building and selection of a contractor, with demolition originally scheduled for July 3. However, following today's collapse, demolition began this afternoon (July 2) and is scheduled to be completed by July 3.

Later in the day, at 3:10 p.m., Mayor Chun chaired the special inspection meeting on monsoon preparedness at the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at City Hall. The meeting comprehensively reviewed major flood and storm response systems, including river disaster prevention, underpass safety management, landslide preparedness, and coastal disaster prevention measures.

First, to prepare for sudden rises in water levels caused by localized heavy rainfall, Busan Metropolitan City will restrict access to all 414 entrances to rivers and streams beginning at the heavy rain advisory stage. In addition, installation of manhole fall-prevention devices in designated priority management areas has reached 94.7 percent (21,172 of 22,339 locations), the highest rate in the nation. Installation at all remaining locations is scheduled for completion within July.

Second, for underpasses, vehicle entry barrier systems have been installed at all 37 locations requiring forced drainage. In accordance with operational manuals, immediate access restrictions will be implemented in cooperation with the police whenever a heavy rain warning is issued or floodwater reaches a depth of 5 centimeters or more.

Third, to prepare for landslides during periods of heavy rainfall, Busan Metropolitan City has designated 356 landslide-prone areas and already completed 209 erosion control projects, with an additional 18 projects scheduled for completion by July. Emergency communication networks have also been established for 3,230 residents subject to landslide forecasts and warnings through telephone calls, text messages, and emergency alerts. Furthermore, evacuation arrangements have been completed in advance by designating 193 evacuation sites and assigning 435 evacuation support personnel.

Finally, as part of coastal disaster prevention measures against typhoons, strong winds, and wave overtopping, intensive inspections of port facilities—including piers, breakwaters, seawalls, and berthing facilities—have been conducted three times, and all necessary safety measures have been completed. The Maritime Safety Management Center will continue operating year-round to ensure a rapid response to any maritime accidents.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo stated, "Under the 9th elected administration, every policy must place citizen safety above all else. As demonstrated in this case, we must take proactive action to prevent the loss of life. Whenever warning signs emerge, we must immediately inform the public and work closely with all relevant agencies to carry out preventive evacuations and implement swift access controls."