Interior ministry commits 15.4 billion won to August-September flood recovery

The interior ministry said Friday it will spend 15.4 billion won ($11.3 million) to repair damage from heavy rain that fell across South Korea from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, after finalizing the damage bill at 10 billion won ($7.36 million).

The money covers the 11 cities and provinces and 46 cities, counties and districts where homes and farmland were flooded. Accumulated rainfall reached 579.5 millimeters in Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla Province and Gwangju, and 284.5 millimeters in Buyeo County in South Chungcheong Province.

Of the total, 3.4 billion won ($2.5 million) is earmarked for disaster relief payments to affected households, while 12 billion won ($8.83 million) will go to rebuilding public infrastructure. Households whose homes were flooded will receive 3.5 million won ($2,574) each, with agricultural and forestry damage compensated by area. The same payments will be made in areas that do not meet the criteria for national government support.

Areas designated as general disaster zones will receive 25 forms of indirect support, including deferred national tax payments, while special disaster zones will receive 13 additional forms, such as reductions in national health insurance premiums.

"The government will strengthen on-site support to speed up recovery work and do its best so that the affected areas can return to their original state," Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung said.