◀ anchor ▶
‘After the Olympics, I will put it back to its original state.’ An alpine ski downhill stadium built on Gariwangsan Mountain in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, despite much opposition at the time of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
It was built on the premise of restoration, but as the restoration plan was delayed, a large amount of soil was lost during a recent heavy rain.
There are concerns that more damage might be caused if left as it is.
This is reporter Ryu Hyun-jun.
◀ Report ▶
The long slopes of the ski downhill slopes are hollowed out.
Large and small rocks below the surface of the earth were exposed as they were.
A two-metre-diameter drain pipe buried under the slope was also revealed dented.
The alpine ski downhill stadium where the Olympic Games were held four years ago.
From the 9th of last month, 250 millimeters of rain fell for three days, and the soil and silt spilled over to the bank at the bottom of the slope.
This is a kind of embankment that was built following a flood in a private house under the slope in 2018.
Due to the heavy rain during this heavy rain, the soil on the slope has been pushed to the road beyond, and the embankment has been built higher.
There are concerns that a slightly greater amount of rain might have put the downstairs accommodations at risk.
[박은정/녹색연합 자연생태팀장]
“If it rains with a very high hourly rainfall, like the rain that fell in Seoul, it’s virtually impossible to say for a hotel down there.”
This stadium, which has been controversial since it was first built, is a ‘disposable’ stadium built on the premise of restoration following the Olympic Games.
However, it took four years to establish a restoration plan due to the demand for tourism resources, etc. In the meantime, rain damage occurred twice in 2018 and this year.
In particular, there is an analysis that there is a high possibility of erosion due to rain because it is made in a ‘punghole zone’ where rocks are piled up.
[정규원/산림기술사]
“I don’t know where the water will erupt when it rains like this. If it is left as it is, the entire Gariwangsan will flow down due to the debris flow…”
There are claims that systematic restoration should be carried out in a hurry, but Gangwon-do is planning to start full-scale restoration two years later as scheduled, saying that it is only minor damage.
[강원도청 산림관리과 관계자]
“Since it’s a minor damage, I’m going to do some leveling work once more, repair the drainage once more, and just do that…”
Gariwangsan, where the ‘Thousand Years Forest’ primeval forest was dug for the festival for a full moon.
The festivities are long overdue, but it looks like there is still more time for the wounds to heal.
This is Hyunjun Ryu from MBC News.
Video coverage: Dongwon Wi / Video editing: Jaehwan Kim
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