Tropical Storm Causes Damage in South Korea, Scout Concert Shifts Focus

Following the passage of a tropical storm through South Korea, which wreaked havoc in various regions, the country has embarked on recovery efforts while shifting its attention to a pop concert organized for 40,000 Scouts. These Scouts had their global Jamboree plans disrupted due to the adverse weather conditions.

The impact of the storm, named Khanun, was predominantly felt in the southern and eastern parts of the country, where heavy rainfall ranging from 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches) led to damage to numerous houses, buildings, and roads. Tragically, at least one fatality was reported.By the time Khanun reached the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, its strength had diminished. Eventually, it transitioned into a tropical depression as it crossed into North Korea.

Subsequently, South Korean authorities decided to lift the nationwide alert issued for the storm. They redirected a significant portion of their administrative resources towards orchestrating a K-pop concert at a soccer stadium in Seoul. This concert served as the closing event for the World Scout Jamboree, which had to be relocated due to Khanun’s impact.Originally planned to be held at a coastal campsite, the event was shifted to various accommodations such as university dormitories, corporate training centers, and hotels across the greater Seoul region and its vicinity.

While Seoul faced ongoing rainfall, major storm-related damage in the city was relatively limited. However, the nearby city of Incheon encountered challenges such as flooded homes and collapsed walls, necessitating prompt response from workers.In Daegu, a southern inland city, a tragic incident occurred as a 67-year-old man was found near a swollen stream and pronounced dead. Search efforts were also underway to locate another individual who was swept into a stream while using a wheelchair.In the mountainous Gangwon province on the east coast, which bore the brunt of Khanun’s heavy rainfall, emergency workers were confronted with brown, thigh-high water that now submerged what were once streets in the seaside cities of Gangneung and Sokcho.The storm compelled nearly 16,000 individuals, primarily from southern regions, to evacuate. As of Friday, approximately 9,700 people had been able to return to their homes, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.