Korea Attributes Record-Breaking Monsoon to Climate Change

In Korea, heavy torrential rains that went on for 49 days (and expected to break the 50-day mark) have brought flooding and landslides, which have resulted in 30 deaths and six thousand people evacuated from their homes. Korea’s longest-recorded monsoon was in 2013, which lasted 49 days. But this year’s one is expected to last longer, setting a new record (South Korea floods, 2020).

Is this year’s record-breaking monsoon a result of climate change?

The Korea Times attributed this year’s record precipitation to climate change. However, the scale of this year’s devastation is another story. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has been recently criticised for its inaccurate weather forecasting. A more accurate forecast would have given people time to prepare and take preemptive measures, preventing significant loss and damage. KMA responded that the increasingly unusual weather phenomena make it difficult for them to make accurate weather forecasts (Minimize flood damages, 2020).

Record-setting amount and duration of precipitation this year

This year’s rainfall is 3 to 4 times higher than the average precipitation in the last 30 years (South Korea: At Least, 2020). Landslide warnings are at their highest level in the region affected (South Korea Floods, 2020).

Floodwaters swamped more than 9,000 hectares, damaged 9,500 public and private facilities, and collapsed around 100 meters of levee at the Seomjin River, flooding the area and forcing 1,900 people to evacuate (South Korea Floods, 2020).

The record-breaking monsoon in Korea and the extent of its damage show the seriousness of climate change and why we need to build resilience against it. At the same time, accurate weather forecasting and early warning systems can significantly reduce the scale of loss and damage.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo grabbed from the video, “S. Korea’s monsoon season longest on record,” of the Arirang News YouTube Channel