Residents mull class action over landslides

By Lee Hyo-sik

Residents of a heavily-hit neighborhood of southern Seoul plan to file a class action suit against the district office for failing to properly warn them of the possible landslides on Mt. Umyeon last Wednesday, which killed 18 and injured a dozen others.

The landslides also destroyed homes, buildings, vehicles and other property in the areas surrounding the mountain.

Arguing that Seocho District Office neglected its duty by ignoring a landslide warning issued by the Korea Forest Service years ago, residents insisted the district office did not take the necessary precautionary measures to deal with landslides and other natural disasters. The office also paid no attention to the clean-up efforts.

A 55-year-old resident living in the Art Hill apartment complex in Bangbae-dong, where three residents lost their lives due to the landslides, told Yonhap that apartment residents will form an ad-hoc committee soon in order to file a lawsuit against the district office.

“Seocho office and Seoul city keep blaming the unexpected torrential rain for the fatal landslides. But we think it is a man-made disaster. We will consult with experts and secure proof that the city government could have prevented what happened if it had planned proper preventative measures and managed risk factors,” he said.

In a village near Mt. Umyeon, where four people were killed, a group of residents also intends to take the matter to the court, arguing if the district office had taken appropriate steps to deal with the heavy rainfall and rein in reckless development, the landslides could have been prevented.

Criticism for lack of foresight and poor management has put the Seocho District Office under a negative spotlight since Wednesday.

Gangnam and other district offices in Seoul had issued warnings.