Kim Jin-ae: "United Party Must Overcome Four Major Rivers Trauma... Dam Causes Backflow Instead"

Kim Jin-ae, a member of the Open Democratic Party, is speaking in favor of a real estate policy bill during the National Assembly plenary session on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Kim Jin-ae, a member of the Open Democratic Party, criticized the United Future Party's claims about the effectiveness of the Four Major Rivers Project as "a kind of trauma."

On the 11th, Kim appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "Blocking the flow of water with dams is a very foolish act," adding, "Honestly, I see the United Future Party bringing up the effectiveness of the Four Major Rivers Project again as a kind of trauma. That trauma must be overcome."

She continued, "It is necessary to make decisions based on common sense and scientific evidence, acknowledge policy failures, and correct those errors." Repeating past logic is problematic, she said.

She pointed out that before the Four Major Rivers Project, there were no major problems in the main streams, but issues occurred in the tributaries, whereas the project targeted the main streams. In fact, the project brought about adverse effects. Kim said, "What is clearly visible this time, especially in the Yeongsan River, is that as the water level of Juksan Dam rises, water flows backward into tributaries. How can you say you are containing such a water basin? Water must be allowed to flow."

She added, "In the Yeongsan River, the most effective measure was actually the retention basin. A retention basin serves to hold water when there is a sudden increase. Such structures need to be created."

This reflects the view that the so-called water basins cannot prevent heavy rainfall. The dams blocking water flow are more problematic. Kim said, "In the case of the Seomjin River, the flooding occurred just downstream of the dam, but in the Nakdong and Yeongsan Rivers, it happened near the dams. Because a large amount of water was stored and could not be properly discharged, the adjacent embankments, made of earth and sediment, could not withstand the pressure and burst."

She also said, "The Audit Office's criticism that the fundamental flood prevention effect is insufficient is correct. It should be considered common sense."

Regarding President Moon Jae-in's mention of re-investigation, she said, "There have been various criticisms about the re-naturalization of the Four Major Rivers and the problems with the dams themselves," adding, "In the cases of the Nakdong and Geum Rivers, political opposition in the regions is quite severe. Verifying the flood issues and proceeding with subsequent measures based on the results is a direction that President Moon's understanding is accurate about."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.