Amid the worst drought on record, the water storage level of Gangneung’s main reservoir in Gangwon Province has fallen below 15 percent, the threshold considered the minimum for maintaining a safe water supply. The Gangneung City Government said that it will soon implement a “75 percent water rationing” once administrative measures are finalized. The central government, for the first time in response to a natural disaster, declared Gangneung a disaster zone and ordered the full mobilization of manpower and equipment for drought relief.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and The Gangneung City Government on August 31, the water reserve rate at the Obong Reservoir stood at 14.8 percent, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous day’s 15.3 percent. This is only 20.6 percent of the average storage rate of 71.7 percent. The Obong Reservoir supplies 86.6 percent of Gangneung’s residential and industrial water.

On the same day, fire trucks from across Gangwon Province as well as Seoul, the capital region, and North Gyeongsang Province hauled water from nearby hydrants and poured it into the Hongje Water Purification Plant, which treats water from the Obong Reservoir. A total of 71 trucks were mobilized, 20 from Gangwon Province and 51 from other regions. Under sweltering heat with daytime temperatures approaching 35 degrees Celsius, firefighters continuously pumped water through hoses. The goal was to supply 2,500 tons of water by 8 p.m. Starting September 1, larger water tankers will replace the fire trucks to deliver 3,000 tons of water per day.

Gangneung has already been enforcing a “50 percent water rationing” since August 20. Soon, water meters in 53,485 households, including apartments and single-family houses, will be restricted by up to 75 percent. This means that even with faucets fully opened, only 25 percent of the normal water flow will be available. It will take two to three days for city officials and local administrators to adjust all the water meters, so the “75 percent water rationing” is expected to take effect from September 2. Agricultural water supply from the Obong Reservoir was fully suspended on August 30.

The situation is taking a toll on residents. Choi Mi-ra, 55, a resident of Naegok-dong, said, “To save drinking water, my whole family takes turns fetching water every day from springs in Daegwallyeong. We’re refraining from bathing, doing laundry, and even washing our hair.” She added, “Sokcho also used to struggle with chronic water shortages, but three years ago they installed an underground storage dam at Ssangcheon Stream, and now they don’t face these issues. I can’t understand why Gangneung hasn’t prepared for recurring droughts.”

Local churches, including Gangdong Church, have suspended their Sunday lunch programs, instead providing bread and milk. The Gangneung branch of the Korea Hotel & Lodging Association asked more than 400 member businesses to “reduce water use as much as possible by lowering water pressure not only in the mains but also in guest room toilets, sinks, and showers.”

Following President Lee Jae-myung’s directive the previous day, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety declared Gangneung a disaster zone. A pan-government task force, including central ministries, local governments, and the Korea Rural Community Corporation, was also formed. An Interior Ministry official said, “On September 1, the vice minister will convene a meeting with relevant agencies in Gangneung to discuss measures for securing drinking and industrial water, supporting affected residents, and finding alternative sources.”

A disaster zone declaration is an emergency measure under Article 36 of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety, issued by the Interior Minister when a disaster occurs or is expected, in order to minimize damage.

This is the first time a disaster zone has been declared for a natural disaster such as drought, rather than a social disaster like wildfires or oil spills. Since the act was enacted in 2004, disaster declarations have been issued five times: the Yangyang wildfire in Gangwon Province in 2005, the Taean oil spill in South Chungcheong Province in 2007, the East Coast wildfire in Gangwon Province in 2019, the Uljin–Samcheok wildfire in North Gyeongsang Province in 2022, and the wildfire that swept through North and South Gyeongsang Provinces in March this year.