South Korea: Busan’s typhoon woes were partly man-made

According to officials in a report from Korea Joongang Daily, residents of a luxury residential complex by the sea in Busan apparently opposed government plans to build a higher breakwater - possibly leading to major property damage inflicted by a deadly typhoon. They said the sea view was more important than their own safety.

Typhoon Chaba landed in Busan Wednesday morning, and within a few hours took at least three lives.

“Protection against natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis are equivalent in importance to the security of the nation,” said Shin Hyun-seok, professor of social environment at Pusan National University. “The local government’s statement that it couldn’t build a higher barrier because of residents’ opposition is a petty excuse.”

“Experts have pointed out time and again that Marine City is too close to the sea, and can be in real danger in times of a tsunami,” Shin said. “Yet authorities placed more importance on the economic factor of a good view, resulting in what is now increasingly perceived as a man-made disaster on Wednesday.”