Typhoon Maemi, which formed in the Pacific Ocean, developed into a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 mph. As it approached South Korea, it took a path toward the southeastern coast, ultimately making landfall near Busan. The typhoon brought torrential rains, storm surges, and intense winds that wreaked havoc across the region. Major urban areas, including Busan, experienced significant flooding and property damage, with reports indicating that thousands of homes were destroyed or severely damaged. Transportation systems were paralyzed, causing major disruptions to daily life and emergency responses.

In the aftermath of the storm, rescue and recovery operations were initiated. Thousands of residents were evacuated to safety, and emergency services were deployed to assist those directly affected. In total, Maemi left a significant number of people injured and created challenging conditions for the local government and disaster management agencies. The storm also led to substantial economic losses, with damages estimated to be in the billions, affecting industries and infrastructure. Local and national government agencies were forced to reassess their disaster preparedness and response strategies, recognizing the need for enhanced resilience against such natural disasters in the future.

Maemi's intensity and impact prompted discussions around climate change and its role in the increasing severity of typhoons impacting the Korean Peninsula. The event served as a wake-up call for ecological considerations as well, as the coastal development in the region faced scrutiny because of the destruction caused by the powerful storm. The storm became part of the collective memory of the South Korean people, symbolizing both the devastation of natural disasters and the resilience of those affected by such events in the face of adversity.