Gwangju City Council Holds Forum on Sewerage Policy Improvement and Revitalization of Gwangjucheon

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan Council announced on the 26th that it held a policy forum titled "Improvement of Gwangju Metropolitan City's Sewerage Policy and Revitalization of Gwangjucheon" in collaboration with the Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation.

The forum was chaired by City Councilor Song Hyung-il, and Professor Song Chang-su of Honam University delivered the presentation.

Discussants included Professor Choi Jae-wan of Gwangju University, Choi Ji-hyun, Secretary General of the Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation, Lee Han-guk, Head of Gwangju City's Sewerage Management Division, Song Jin-nam, Head of Gwangju City's Water Circulation Policy Division, and Drs. Kim Bong-jin and Kim Jong-il from the Gwangju-Jeonnam Research Institute, as well as Dr. Ko Jun-il from Chonnam National University.

Professor Song Chang-su, who gave the presentation, emphasized, "It is desirable to use a separate sewer system to prevent water pollution in public water bodies," adding, "It is necessary to install dedicated sewage pipelines as essential facilities, and to increase sewer pipeline capacity and further expand stormwater retention facilities to respond to heavy rains caused by climate change."

Professor Choi Jae-wan, who participated as a discussant, raised the need for measures to treat unidentified water to reduce inflow to the Gwangju sewage treatment plant, the necessity of separating sewage and stormwater systems, and the maintenance of sewage trunk pipelines. He also stressed the need to improve aging sewer pipelines to prevent urban sinkhole occurrences.

Dr. Kim Bong-jin stated, "In 2020, the budget for Gwangju City's sewerage projects (special accounts) was 161.8 billion KRW, which is about 2.5% of the total fiscal scale. To secure sewerage funding, efforts are needed to expand general account transfers, adjust the priority of discretionary expenditures in the medium-term fiscal plan, and revise laws and systems to increase the national subsidy rate for metropolitan sewer pipeline maintenance projects from 30% to over 50%."

Secretary General Choi Ji-hyun said, "We must not forget that the Gwangjucheon Arirang Cultural Waterway project started from ecological river restoration," adding, "River policies and directions should reduce pollution inflow into Gwangjucheon, restore naturalness, and shift to integrated water management and governance. It is necessary to review the withdrawal of the movable weir installation and change the project plan."

Councilor Song Hyung-il, who organized the forum, stated, "It is necessary to comprehensively and systematically promote the sewer pipeline maintenance project and the Gwangjucheon Arirang Cultural Waterway project, and through this, improve the living environment and enhance citizens' quality of life."

He also emphasized, "Resolving odor complaints, preventing sinkhole occurrences, preventing water pollution in Gwangjucheon, and responding to floods are very important to prioritize protecting citizens' health and safety."

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