In September 2025, Gangneung City is experiencing its worst drought in 48 years, with 180,000 residents facing water restrictions. Mayor Kim Hong-gyu announced a 50% reduction in domestic water supply and implemented emergency water restrictions across the city starting September 20th. This extreme phenomenon, caused by changing precipitation patterns due to climate change, has raised urgent calls for nationwide water shortage response system inspections.
For American readers, this situation mirrors severe droughts experienced in California and the Southwest United States, but with unique challenges. Unlike the U.S., where interstate water transfers and federal coordination help manage regional shortages, South Korea geographic constraints and mountainous terrain limit such options. Gangneung population of 210,000 is roughly equivalent to cities like Spokane, Washington, or Fayetteville, Arkansas, making this crisis significant in scale.
Obong Reservoir Drops to 21.8%, Lowest Since 1977
The Obong Reservoir, which serves as the core of Gangneung City domestic water supply, has dropped to a storage rate of 21.8% as of September 19th, approaching entry into the 10% range. This is the lowest level in 48 years since the reservoir construction in 1977, and any further decline would make domestic water supply itself impossible—a critical situation.
Mayor Kim Hong-gyu stated, Current trends suggest the drought will continue until mid-October, requesting maximum cooperation from citizens. Water restrictions are being implemented by shutting off 50% of residential water meters citywide. This extreme measure involves cutting off water supply for 16 hours from 6 AM to 10 PM, providing water only during 8 nighttime hours.
This has directly inconvenienced approximately 180,000 out of Gangneung total population of 210,000. High-rise apartments and commercial facilities are particularly experiencing operational difficulties due to water shortages.
Gangneung City has installed temporary water stations throughout the city and deployed water supply vehicles to water-shortage areas as emergency measures. They are also reviewing underground water development and water supply from neighboring regions.
Climate Change-Induced Precipitation Pattern Changes as Primary Cause
Experts analyze the fundamental cause of this Gangneung drought as rapid changes in precipitation patterns due to climate change. Due to the early expansion of the North Pacific high pressure system in 2025, the rainy season ended early—in late June for Jeju Island and July 1st for southern regions—resulting in significantly insufficient summer rainfall nationwide.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Gangneung July-September cumulative precipitation was only 40% of the normal level. The pattern of past summer-concentrated rainfall being delayed to autumn has been repeating in recent years, causing delays in major reservoir water level recovery. This change is interpreted not as a simple natural phenomenon but as structural change due to global warming.
Professor Kim Yeon-hee of Seoul National University Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences explained, The Korean Peninsula precipitation patterns are becoming subtropical, with extreme phenomena of summer concentrated heavy rains and autumn droughts becoming routine. The East Coast region is particularly vulnerable to drought due to limited water vapor supply from the west due to the Taebaek Mountains influence.
Nationwide Water Shortage Response System Requires Complete Review
This Gangneung incident has exposed limitations in nationwide water shortage response systems beyond individual regional problems. Although the Ministry of Environment prepared comprehensive drought measures for 2025, response capabilities in actual extreme situations proved still insufficient.
The Korea Meteorological Administration set its 2025 policy goal as A people safe from weather disasters, a nation prepared for climate crisis and is strengthening abnormal weather response systems. They are pursuing policies including three-month temperature outlook and impact information provision, introduction of meteorological drought indices at township level, and expansion of small watershed area precipitation information.
Experts propose regional customized water resource securing measures, establishment of water supply plans reflecting climate change scenarios, construction of inter-regional water supply networks, and introduction of smart water management systems for solving water shortage problems. They emphasize the need for comprehensive approaches from medium to long-term perspectives rather than short-term crisis response.
As climate change accelerates, extreme droughts like Gangneung are becoming a new normal that can occur anywhere nationwide. According to IPCC reports, under the RCP8.5 scenario, drought frequency in currently dry regions is projected to increase further by the end of this century. Now, urgent establishment of preemptive and comprehensive response strategies is needed, recognizing drought not as a one-time disaster but as a constant risk.
Source: Original Korean article
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