Gyeonggi-do Ombudsman, Resolving Frequent Flooding Caused by Tree Roots 'Neglected by Suwon City'

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Gwanggyo New Office Building

Years of residents' grievances caused by frequent flooding due to sewage pipe infiltration by tree roots in front of the apartment have been resolved through a mediation recommendation by the Gyeonggi Province Ombudsman.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 5th, complainant Mr. A filed multiple requests with Suwon City since 2017 to remove the street trees. However, when the issue remained unresolved, Mr. A submitted a grievance complaint to the Gyeonggi Province Ombudsman in November last year.

In his complaint, Mr. A stated that the roots of the Metasequoia trees on the sidewalk near the apartment complex had infiltrated the sewage pipes that discharge wastewater from the daycare center and senior citizens' center within the apartment, blocking the pipes and causing frequent sewage flooding, resulting in damage.

Mr. A had previously filed complaints with Suwon City, but the city responded that the sewage pipes were not damaged due to the trees, and expressed reluctance to remove the trees, citing concerns over opposition from environmental groups and others. The city also stated that the drainage pipes in question were private property managed by the apartment complex, not public sewage, and thus the apartment management office should handle pipe replacement.

The apartment management office indicated that without taking action on the trees, budget execution for sewage pipe replacement would likely face resident opposition, and that if sewage pipe construction and root removal were conducted simultaneously, support from Suwon City would be necessary for sidewalk block removal and other tasks.

After receiving Mr. A’s complaint, the provincial ombudsman reviewed documents, conducted on-site investigations, and held meetings to prepare a mediation plan, ultimately reaching a final agreement on the 21st of last month with Suwon City, the apartment management office, and the complainant.

According to the agreement, Suwon City will support the smooth progress of the apartment’s sewage pipe replacement work to resolve residents’ inconvenience caused by tree root infiltration, and will carry out root removal work and install root barrier sheets. The apartment management office will conduct the sewage pipe replacement work and maintain and manage it in accordance with Article 27 of the Sewerage Act.

Hwang Jong-il, the provincial ombudsman, said, "Since this issue involved children and the elderly experiencing inconvenience, I hope this agreement will resolve their grievances. The Gyeonggi Province Ombudsman will do its best to protect the rights and interests of residents and strive to play a role in promoting change in Gyeonggi Province."

The province currently operates the "Gyeonggi Province Ombudsman," composed of 10 external experts. The provincial ombudsman investigates, reviews, and recommends corrective actions regarding illegal or unfair administrative measures by the province and its affiliated institutions, resolves grievance complaints through expression of opinions, mediation, and agreements, and recommends improvements to unreasonable administrative systems to protect residents’ rights and interests.

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