Byeongho Pyo, Gyeongnam Provincial Council Member: "Ownership of Yangsan Beopgi Reservoir Should Be Transferred to Gyeongnam Province"

Gyeongnam Provincial Council member Pyo Byung-ho is questioning the provincial administration.
[Image source=Gyeongnam Provincial Council]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] On the 7th, Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly member Pyo Byeong-ho urged the preparation of measures to transfer ownership to Gyeongnam Province through administrative district adjustment of the 'Yangsan Beopgi Reservoir,' which is in dispute with Busan City, during the 388th extraordinary session provincial government questioning.

The Beopgi Reservoir was created in 1932 to supply water to Japanese residents in the Busan area. Although its administrative district is Yangsan City, ownership and management rights are dualized under Busan Metropolitan City, and the reservoir supplies drinking water to Busan's Geumjeong-gu and Gijang-gun.

Assemblyman Pyo stated, "The Beopgi Reservoir is a tourist destination visited by many tourists. Gyeongnam Province only promotes it as a representative tourist area by selecting it as one of 18 healing tourist spots within the province, but completely neglects issues such as infringement of residents' property rights, occurrence of civil complaints, and tourism development."

He continued, "Recently, Busan City drew a line by calling it a deviation of a public official, like the 'Jirisan Deoksan Dam,' and Busan's persistent greed for Gyeongnam's water has been a subject of controversy several times. Nevertheless, Gyeongnam has not been able to strategically use the existence of the 'Busan water located in Gyeongnam,' the Beopgi Reservoir, in negotiations," urging Gyeongnam Province to prepare a response strategy.

The Director of the Climate, Environment, and Forestry Bureau of Gyeongnam Province responded, "Recently, as many tourists have visited the reservoir, there have been increasing demands for additional opening and concerns about water pollution. We have consulted with Busan City, but Busan expressed an unwillingness to negotiate. We will continue to consult with Yangsan and Busan regarding related matters."

Assemblyman Pyo requested, "The Beopgi Reservoir issue should be resolved by adjusting administrative districts on a grand scale under the 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Megacity' concept. I ask Gyeongnam Province to apply for dispute mediation to the dispute mediation committee or proceed with procedures such as ownership return campaigns to transfer ownership."

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