Shifting to Preemptive Mitigation: Shincheonji Western Seoul Alliance Executes Large-Scale Urban Flood Prevention Operations
Addressing Infrastructure Blind Spots Through Systematic Maintenance While localized torrential rains have become increasingly common due to climate change, maintaining the cleanliness of urban drainage infrastructure remains a critical challenge for disaster prevention. According to a 2025 analysis by the Seoul Institute, the primary cause of drainage failures during the severe August 2022 floods in Seoul's Gangnam and Sillim-dong districts was the accumulation of debris, leaf litter, and cigarette butts in storm drains. When these drains function as street waste bins, rainwater backs up into residential zones instead of discharging into the sewer system. Recognizing that relying solely on public administrative personnel leaves physical blind spots across the city, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Seoul-Gyeonggi Western Alliance institutionalized a preemptive environmental purification framework. This program prioritizes proactive disaster mitigation over post-disaster recovery to...