Prof. Jin-Soo Kim interviewed on 'monster monsoon' rainfall risks and disaster response in the Chungcheong region

Prof. Jin-Soo Kim (Climate System Lab, KAIST Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Director of the Climate Adaptation Research Center) was interviewed by Chungcheong Today for its June 18, 2026 report "Unpredictable 'monster monsoon' – the flood-vulnerable Chungcheong region must change its response system," on the severity of damage from torrential rains in the region and the need to strengthen infrastructure and disaster response.

Prof. Kim explained that the Chungcheong region is geographically prone to stagnant fronts and, with its many small and medium-sized streams, is vulnerable to heavy rainfall. He noted that the 2026 monsoon could be intensified by El Niño with a possibility of typhoons, and emphasized that because the large variability of stagnant fronts makes accurate timing forecasts difficult, discussions on reinforcing infrastructure and disaster response systems are needed.

Related: Chungcheong Today article (Korean) | Source: KAIST Climate System Lab – News