Torrential rain and a high tide surge flooded coastal villages and shops in the Jisepo Port area of Geoje, South Korea [1].
The flooding disrupted a key tourist district, leaving business owners to contend with mud and water that entered their establishments through drainage systems and doorways [1].
The flooding occurred because heavy rainfall could not drain into the sea while the tide was at its high point [1]. This phenomenon, known as a "daechogi" or spring tide, caused water to back up into the streets and buildings rather than flowing outward [1].
Local business owners reported severe damage to their inventories and equipment. Lee Eun-jin, who operates a hair salon near Jisepo Port, said she described the scene upon opening her business [3].
"When I opened the door, the inside was full of water, equipment was floating around, and products were washing away," Lee said [3].
The affected area in South Gyeongsang Province serves as both a fishing community and a destination for visitors [1]. The combination of extreme weather and lunar-driven tide cycles turned the coastal infrastructure into a basin, trapping water within the shopping district [1].
Residents and shop owners spent hours clearing mud, and debris from their interiors as the waters receded [1]. The event highlights the vulnerability of low-lying coastal infrastructure to the simultaneous occurrence of heavy precipitation and peak tidal levels [1].
“The inside was full of water, equipment was floating around, and products were washing away.”
This event demonstrates the compounding risk of 'compound flooding,' where meteorological events like torrential rain intersect with astronomical events like spring tides. For coastal cities in South Korea, this suggests that standard drainage systems may be insufficient during peak tide cycles, necessitating higher sea walls or advanced pumping infrastructure to prevent urban flooding.
