A huge wave crashes into the rocks on the coastline near Jeju Island's Seogwipo City, Sunday. Weather advisories have been issued for the southern regions as the country is bracing for potentially the most destructive typhoon in decades. Yonhap
President Yoon calls for preemptive response
By Jung Min-ho
Korea issued weather advisories for the southern regions, Sunday, as it braces for potentially the most destructive typhoon in decades.
As the powerful Typhoon Hinnamnor is slowly moving toward the country, preliminary weather advisories have already been issued in most cities and counties in southern areas, including Gwangju, Busan and Jeju.
This tropical cyclone, the strongest one of the year so far, is expected to hit Korea on Tuesday, bringing violent winds and heavy rain. By then, it will have developed into a "super strong" typhoon, the strongest on a four-tier scale, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Super strong refers to typhoons with a maximum wind speed of at least 54 meters per second. Woo Jin-kyu, a senior analyst at the weather agency, warned that it might be one of the most destructive typhoons ever to hit the country, saying the scope of damage it leaves behind could be "unprecedented."
During a meeting held at the underground base of his building, President Yoon Suk-yeol told top-ranking officials to prepare for the storm proactively.
"It is concerning because many people are still recovering from flood damage," he said. "The government should do its best to minimize damage … The areas affected by the recent floods require particular attention."
Yoon directed the Cabinet ministers to pay greater attention to the underprivileged, particularly those who live in semi-underground homes and lower coastal plain regions who were hit hardest during the recent heavy downfall that displaced many people across the nation.
