Water levels at the Gunnam Dam remained below danger thresholds Wednesday morning after heavy rainfall fell overnight across the Seoul metropolitan area [1].
The stability of the dam is critical for preventing downstream flooding in Gyeonggi Province, where sudden surges in the Imjin River can threaten local infrastructure and residential areas.
At 6 a.m. KST on July 15, the water level at the dam in Yeoncheon County was recorded at 25.84 meters [1]. This level remains significantly lower than the 29-meter mark where operators typically consider opening additional spillway gates [1]. The critical threshold for possible flooding is set at 40 meters [1].
Dam operators currently have seven of the 13 spillway gates open [1]. This configuration is considered a normal opening given the current reservoir levels.
While the heavy rain has entered a lull, weather conditions at the site remain volatile. Reporter Song Su-hyun said the rain is gradually stopping, but wind has begun to pick up and thick fog has settled around the dam [1].
An anchor for YTN News said that while much rain fell in the metropolitan area overnight, the situation has now reached a state of lull [1]. The monitoring of the Gunnam Dam continues as officials track the runoff from the overnight storms to ensure the river does not exceed its safety limits.
“The water level at the dam in Yeoncheon County was recorded at 25.84 meters.”
The Gunnam Dam serves as a primary regulator for the Imjin River, and its current status indicates that the overnight rainfall was not sufficient to trigger emergency flood protocols. Because the water level is nearly four meters below the threshold for additional gate openings and well below the 40-meter flood risk mark, the immediate threat of a dam-related disaster in the region is low.
