Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, "Will Restore Four Major Rivers' Weirs... Promote New Dam Construction and River Dredging"

The Ministry of Environment will maintain all weirs on the four major rivers (Han River, Nakdong River, Geum River, and Yeongsan River) and normalize the operation of Sejong Weir and Gongju Weir.

Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, stated on the 20th regarding the public audit results on the 'Dismantling and Permanent Opening of Geum River and Yeongsan River Weirs,' "We plan to establish flood control measures that include bold river maintenance such as new dam construction and dredging as soon as possible."

Minister Han emphasized, "We will end the controversies related to the four major rivers and prioritize safety in water management to actively respond to the ongoing climate crisis," adding, "We will also undertake personnel renewal and organizational restructuring to support this."

The Ministry of Environment respects the public audit results on the 'Dismantling and Permanent Opening of Geum River and Yeongsan River Weirs' announced today by the Board of Audit and Inspection, and explained that it will immediately implement follow-up measures and boldly promote river maintenance for public safety.

Earlier today, the Board of Audit and Inspection confirmed that there was improper intervention by Kim Eun-kyung, then Minister of Environment, in the dismantling process of the four major river weirs pursued during the Moon Jae-in administration. It also pointed out unfair formation of the committee by leaking the list of experts recommended as members of the Four Major Rivers Investigation and Evaluation Group’s expert committee to a specific civic group, and selecting members mainly recommended by that group.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, the Ministry of Environment plans to request a re-deliberation of the 'Geum River and Yeongsan River Weir Handling Plan' approved in January 2021 by the Presidential Water Management Committee. The National Water Management Committee is an organization established under Article 20 of the Water Management Basic Act to deliberate and decide on important matters related to water management. Previously, the committee approved the 'Geum River and Yeongsan River Weir Handling Plan' in January 2021.

Additionally, the ministry intends to revise the National Water Management Basic Plan to utilize the weirs for the public interest. The National Water Management Basic Plan is the highest-level water sector plan established every ten years by the Minister of Environment under the Water Management Basic Act. Since its first establishment in June 2021, it has included plans such as weir dismantling.

Minister Han Hwa-jin stated, "As revealed in this audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, the previous government's decision to dismantle the weirs was hasty and irresponsible," and added, "We will establish flood control measures that include bold river maintenance such as new dam construction and dredging as soon as possible."

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