Imsil-gun Accelerates Eco-friendly Utilization Plan Establishment for Seomjingang Dam

Published 29 Aug.2023 16:24(KST)

Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk is accelerating the establishment of an eco-friendly utilization plan for the Seomjingang Dam and its surrounding areas.

The county announced on the 29th that on the 28th, County Governor Shim Min presided over the mid-term report meeting for the "Seomjingang Dam and Surrounding Areas Eco-friendly Utilization Plan Establishment Project."

Imsil-gun held an interim report meeting on the "Establishment of an Eco-friendly Utilization Plan for Seomjingang Dam and Surrounding Areas" on the 28th.
[Photo by Imsil-gun]

The report meeting was attended by about 10 people, including Governor Shim, where the basic concept and utilization zone plans were reported and discussed in depth.

This research project has been conducted by the Jeonbuk Research Institute since April last year, in accordance with the "Special Act on Eco-friendly Conservation and Utilization of Dam Surrounding Areas," which was enacted as a special law in June 2021.

The purpose is to systematically conserve, manage, and utilize the natural environment such as water quality and ecosystems around the dam area, thereby promoting the economy of the dam surrounding region and aiming for balanced regional development and sustainable national land development.

At this mid-term report meeting, the project concept for eco-friendly conservation and utilization of the Okjeongho area was divided into six core zones. Various utilization plans for the establishment plan were discussed, including analysis of development conditions according to transportation plans and land use concepts based on demand population, along with review of key issues and collection of opinions.

The Seomjingang Dam, constructed in 1965 as the nation’s first multi-purpose dam, has not had a proper circular road opened since its construction, causing difficulties for local residents and visitors alike.

However, since the lifting of the Okjeongho water source protection zone in the Imsil-gun water area in 2015, a turning point for regional development, which had been neglected, has arrived, and the area is emerging as a suitable site for environmentally friendly development.

Accordingly, the county is focusing on preparing eco-friendly utilization plans for the Seomjingang Dam surrounding area, including national policy tasks such as region-led balanced development using the "Special Act on Eco-friendly Conservation and Utilization of Dam Surrounding Areas," response to local extinction, and realization of carbon neutrality.

The report meeting was meaningful in that it provided a mid-term check of the ongoing plan, presented the basic concept and strategy for the eco-friendly utilization plan, and allowed in-depth discussions and collection of constructive opinions on the detailed projects identified based on this.

The county plans to swiftly complete the research project through consultations with related organizations and collection of local residents’ opinions, and proceed with the Ministry of Environment’s approval process for the finalized plan to be established in the second half of this year.

Governor Shim Min said, “I ask for a thorough plan to be established to sufficiently reinforce the persuasion logic for the Ministry of Environment and obtain final approval,” and added, “Please devote yourselves to the task so that the project can contribute to the development around Seomjingang Dam linked with eco-friendly ecological tourism industry in the Okjeongho area, revitalize the local economy, and lead to substantial achievements that drive the future growth of the county.”