This summer is likely to see more and stronger typhoons, which could hamper the mega project to clear up Korea's four major rivers, according to Kim Kwang-yul, a professor at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University. Kim will present his research at the meeting on prevention of typhoon-related disasters at the National Typhoon Center in Jeju on Monday.

The typhoons will pose a challenge to the progress of the four rivers project, which is only in its infant stage.

According to the study, there will be 27.1 typhoons with winds speeds of 17 m/s at least, more than the 10-year average of 23.9 typhoons between 2000 and 2009. This summer will see 18.3 typhoons with core wind speeds of 33 m/s and the active period will be 227 days this year, up 51 percent from the average of the last 10 years.