en.Wedoany.com Reported - Seoul, South Korea, has launched the construction of the Dorimcheon deep rainwater drainage tunnel, with completion expected by January 2030. The tunnel has a total length of 4.54 kilometers and a maximum diameter of 12 meters. Once completed, it will divert and store rainwater during heavy downpours, reducing the risk of water level rise in Dorimcheon and flooding in surrounding areas.

On the 23rd, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the implementation plan for the urban planning facility project concerning the construction of the deep rainwater drainage tunnel in the Dorimcheon area. The project section starts at 459-5 Sindaebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, and ends at 87 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu. In terms of urban planning facilities, the project encompasses waterproofing facilities and a plaza project. The waterproofing facility covers an area of 70,885 square meters, and the rainwater drainage tunnel has a total length of 4.54 kilometers, with a diameter ranging from 10.4 meters to 12.0 meters. The tunnel operation requires the installation of five vertical shafts, including one ventilation shaft, three intake/outtake shafts, and one maintenance shaft. The planned area for the urban planning facility plaza is 928 square meters. The project is executed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with the project period starting from the date of approval and announcement of the implementation plan until January 5, 2030.

The deep rainwater drainage tunnel is a disaster prevention facility designed to receive rainwater flowing simultaneously into rivers and sewer pipes during heavy rain, storing it in large tunnels deep underground to mitigate river water level rises and urban flooding risks. The Dorimcheon area is adjacent to residential and commercial districts, as well as a densely populated living zone with urban infrastructure such as roads and railways. Short-duration, concentrated rainfall can easily cause a sharp rise in river levels, and the risk of flooding in low-lying areas and river overflow in this region has frequently drawn attention. In fact, Dorimcheon has been a primary management focus for Seoul and related agencies during every heavy rain event. In July 2024, a heavy rain warning was issued across Seoul, flood warnings were issued for Mokgamcheon and Dorimcheon, and access to 29 rivers and streams in the city was restricted. Last July, at the Sindaebang 1 Bridge in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, the water level surged from about 80 centimeters to over 2.5 meters within 30 minutes, leading to a flood warning.

This project is one of the core initiatives in the large-scale disaster prevention infrastructure expansion promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government since the record-breaking rainfall in August 2022. At that time, the cumulative rainfall across Seoul reached 515 millimeters, resulting in casualties and extensive facility damage. Some experts pointed out that relying solely on the existing disaster prevention system composed of sewer pipes and rainwater pumping stations is insufficient to cope with extreme rainfall caused by climate change. In response, Seoul raised its disaster prevention performance target from the previous 95 millimeters per hour to 100 millimeters per hour and decided to re-prioritize the deep rainwater drainage tunnel project, focusing on flood-vulnerable areas. Gangnam Station, Gwanghwamun, and the Dorimcheon area were designated as targets for the first phase of the project, with Seoul planning to complete these sections by 2030. After the completion of the first phase, combined with the already operational Sinwol deep rainwater drainage tunnel, Seoul's core flood-vulnerable areas will be reinforced through large-scale underground disaster prevention facilities.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that it will proceed with subsequent procedures such as land acquisition and usage based on the announced implementation plan, and advance construction through departments such as the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters. A Seoul official said that efforts will be made to fully complete the first-phase deep rainwater drainage tunnels at Gangnam Station, Gwanghwamun, and Dorimcheon to prevent casualties from wind and flood disasters and minimize property damage.

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