The Gangneung authorities decided to cut off water supply to 123 facilities, including to 113 residential complexes and 10 large hotels. According to the mayor Kim Hong-Kyu, water reservoirs should be enough for two or three days, after which emergency water supplies will start using tanks.
The restrictions covered as much as 75 percent. water meters in households, which means that most inhabitants must use water in much smaller quantities than before.
According to the city's data, in the last six months only 38.77 cm of rain has fallen in Gangneung, which is 45.3 percent. average rainfall for this region. Such low water level in the OBONG tank, the main source of supply of the city, caused the need to close all urban sports facilities, including pools, tennis courts and a golf club. Officials emphasize that this decision aims to alleviate water deficiencies and cope with the prolonged drought.
Sport and everyday life under the pressure of drought
In connection with the water crisis, the football match in Gangneung will take place without the participation of the audience, and other sporting events have been canceled or postponed. The city's inhabitants must receive large water bottles at journeys, and city employees also deliver them to residential complexes.
Mayor Kim Hong-Kyu emphasized that Gangneung is currently struggling with the worst drought for 108 years since meteorological observations are conducted. He pointed out that the survival of this difficult period would be possible only thanks to the common effort of residents in the field of water saving.
Extreme weather conditions in South Korea
Earlier in 2025 South Korea experienced the most deadly fires in its history, which caused strong winds and extremely dry conditions. The country's authorities also announced that the summer of 2025 was the hottest in history, breaking the record set a year earlier.
The situation in Gangneung shows how serious consequences can have a climate change for the everyday life of the inhabitants. Local authorities call for reasonable water management and joint actions to survive the most difficult period in over a century.
