South Korea’s drought crisis shows costs of poor preparation for climate shocks



Analysis South Korea’s drought crisis shows costs of poor preparation for climate shocks From wildfires to flood, extreme weather events are straining the ROK+1 economy and placing communities at risk John LeeSeptember 5, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON An illustration of a nearly dry reservoir \| Image: Korea Pro A drinking water crisis in South Korea’s east coast city of Gangneung has exposed long-standing deficiencies in key infrastructure, calling into question the country’s readiness to respond to the mounting threats posed by climate change. The ROK government has declared a national drought disaster in response to the water shortage in Gangneung’s main reservoir, but despite being the first-ever designation of its kind, the drought is far from the first environmental crisis that South Korea has faced in recent years, with floods, wildfires and other extreme weather events causing billions of dollars in damage. The country’s response to these disasters © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Samsung, SK Hynix rejection exposes South Korea’s chip-grid financing problem 02Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine 03Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system 04South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience 05Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma 06Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs 07South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower 08Hanwha’s Austal bid shows where South Korea’s MASGA plan may be heading

Analysis

South Korea’s drought crisis shows costs of poor preparation for climate shocks

From wildfires to flood, extreme weather events are straining the ROK+1 economy and placing communities at risk

John LeeSeptember 5, 2025

South Korea’s drought crisis shows costs of poor preparation for climate shocks

An illustration of a nearly dry reservoir | Image: Korea Pro

A drinking water crisis in South Korea’s east coast city of Gangneung has exposed long-standing deficiencies in key infrastructure, calling into question the country’s readiness to respond to the mounting threats posed by climate change.

The ROK government has declared a national drought disaster in response to the water shortage in Gangneung’s main reservoir, but despite being the first-ever designation of its kind, the drought is far from the first environmental crisis that South Korea has faced in recent years, with floods, wildfires and other extreme weather events causing billions of dollars in damage.

The country’s response to these disasters

LATEST ANALYSIS

01Samsung, SK Hynix rejection exposes South Korea’s chip-grid financing problem
02Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine
03Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system
04South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience
05Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma
06Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs
07South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower
08Hanwha’s Austal bid shows where South Korea’s MASGA plan may be heading

South Korea’s drought crisis shows costs of poor preparation for climate shocks

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

John Lee