Yeongju Dam Approved for Completion After 7 Years... "Large-Scale Tourist Complex Development"

The long-cherished wish of 100,000 Yeongju citizens has finally been fulfilled with the completion of Yeongju Dam.

Yeongju City in Gyeongbuk announced on the 22nd that it has received the Ministry of Environment's final completion approval for the Yeongju multipurpose dam. It has been 7 years since the dam was completed.

Yeongju Dam.

Yeongju Dam was constructed starting in 2009 with the purpose of securing river maintenance water to improve water quality in the Nakdong River basin and mitigating flood damage in response to abnormal climate conditions. Although it was completed in 2016, approval was not granted due to differences of opinion among related agencies during the relocation and restoration of cultural assets and the promotion of various development projects.

However, after drifting for 7 years, the final completion approval was announced, fulfilling the long-standing project of Yeongju citizens and raising expectations for a new foundation for regional development.

Yeongju City plans to develop the area around the dam into a large-scale tourist complex beyond just flood control facilities.

First, for nighttime scenery, an illumination park using light lighting will be created around Yongmaru Park, and plans to attract private investment for accommodations and restaurants are also being considered.

Projects such as the Yeongju Dam waterfront ecological resource complex and Yeongju Dam leisure sports facility development project, sports complex, Yeongju Dam adventure space, and water leisure sports facilities, which are currently under investment review by Gyeongbuk Province, will be expanded to create a premium tourist destination around Yeongju Dam that encompasses health, tourism, and sports.

Additionally, related projects that can create synergy effects, such as the Yeongju Dam aquatic ecological national garden project, a presidential pledge, will be promoted in the Beongyedeul and Gaesandeul areas of Isan-myeon, Yeongju City.

To prevent indiscriminate reckless development around the dam and ensure systematic development, the city plans to conduct a "Basic Plan and Feasibility Study for Development Projects around Yeongju Dam" to review projects that utilize the dam's waterfront resources for landscape development along with projects for local ecosystem and environmental conservation.

Park Hyung-su, a member of the People Power Party from Yeongju, said, "The swift administrative procedures such as the dam completion approval announcement were possible thanks to the unified will of Yeongju citizens," adding, "Based on the unity shown during the completion process, I will do my best for the development of Yeongju City and the influx of population."

Park Nam-seo, mayor of Yeongju City, said, "I thank all the citizens who worked together until the final approval and will make Yeongju Dam a new development hub for the region through sustainable development for future generations."

Yeongju Dam was constructed at the confluence of Naeseongcheon and the Nakdong River near Naeseongcheon in Pyeongeun-myeon, covering a watershed area of 500㎢, with a length of 400m, height of 55.5m, effective storage capacity of 138 million cubic meters, and total storage capacity of 181.1 million cubic meters.

Around the dam, convenience facilities such as the country's longest 51km circular road, relocation complexes (3 sites, 66 households) for submerged village residents, Yeongju Dam Water Culture Center, Yeongju Lake Auto Camping Site, and traditional culture experience centers have been established.

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