Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 10 Illegal Activities in Paldang Watershed Protection Area

Cases of Illegal Activities Detected within the Paldang Watershed Protection Area

Gyeonggi Province has identified 10 businesses engaging in illegal activities within the Paldang Watershed Protection Area.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 24th that from September 11 to 22, they uncovered 10 cases (14 violations) of unauthorized construction, change of use without permission, and unreported food service operations within the Paldang Watershed Protection Area.

Among the main violations, Business A in Gwangju City was caught operating a general restaurant within the watershed protection area while constructing and using a building without approval from the relevant authorities. Business B in Gwangju City was found using a building originally intended for mushroom cultivation as a logistics warehouse without permission for change of use from the authorities.

Business C in Yeoju City was caught preparing and selling meat and alcoholic beverages to customers without reporting the operation of a general restaurant to the relevant authorities.

Business D in Yangpyeong County was found storing three food ingredients that had passed their expiration dates by more than four years inside the business premises without labeling them as ‘for disposal’ or ‘for educational use’ while operating a general restaurant.

Under the current Water Supply Act, constructing or changing the use of buildings within the watershed protection area without permission is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

Additionally, the Food Sanitation Act stipulates that unreported food service operations and unreported changes in business area are punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million KRW each. Storing expired food ingredients without labeling them as ‘for educational use’ or ‘for disposal’ within business premises is also punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare, emphasized, "We will continue to crack down on repeated illegal activities to ensure that residents can use safe and clean water sources."

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