Busan City and Environmental Groups Discuss Environmental Impact Assessment of Daejeo Bridge Construction Project

Meeting Hosted by Nakdonggang Basin Environmental Office on the 23rd... City and Environmental Groups Discuss Disagreements

Daejeo Bridge Road Construction Project, Controversy Over Migratory Bird Habitat Damage, Route Under Review for 7 Years

On November 23, Busan City discussed mutual disagreements with environmental organizations regarding the environmental impact assessment of the ‘Sikman~Sasang (Daejeo Bridge) Road Construction Project’ at a meeting hosted by the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office.

This meeting was organized by the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office to discuss the differing opinions between Busan City and environmental groups on the ‘Daejeo Bridge Environmental Impact Assessment.’

At the meeting, 16 participants including representatives from the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Busan City, and environmental organizations exchanged views on the environmental impact on winter migratory birds caused by the construction of the Nakdong River crossing bridge.

Busan City, aiming to promptly advance the Daejeo Bridge construction project, which has been suspended for seven years due to controversy over damage to migratory bird habitats, submitted an environmental impact assessment report (final version) to the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office on September 20. This report was prepared after gathering opinions from residents and experts, proposing to proceed with the original route while adding measures to mitigate environmental impacts such as guaranteeing winter migratory bird activities and expanding habitats.

Although the road route was finalized through a strategic environmental impact assessment by the Ministry of Environment (Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office) in April 2016, the project had been stalled due to ongoing controversy over damage to migratory bird habitats.

Currently, the project plan is under review to reflect the supplementary requirements requested by specialized agencies reviewing the assessment report.

However, as opposition from environmental groups continued after Busan City submitted the environmental impact assessment report (final version), the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office arranged this meeting as a communication platform to hear the differing opinions of Busan City and environmental organizations and to allow for environmental impact evaluation through subsequent expert review, supplementation, and coordination.

Busan City reported at the meeting that the ‘Nakdong River Estuary Ecosystem Monitoring,’ conducted annually since 2003, analyzed the restoration projects of Eulsukdo and the Nakdong River floodplain, concluding that habitat functions have been strengthened, with wetlands, feeding grounds, and natural embankments harmoniously creating stabilized resting and grazing areas.

They also stated that continuous wetland improvements and the creation of fallow fields have led to a steady increase in swan species at Eulsukdo, Daejeo, and Maekdo, and pledged to do their utmost to conserve and restore the ecosystem by minimizing environmental impacts through measures such as creating alternative habitats during the Daejeo Bridge construction.

At the meeting, Lee Seong-gwon, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, said, “Our city is implementing restoration projects in the Nakdong River Estuary area directly, pursuing a balanced administration where development and conservation coexist. Regarding the Daejeo Bridge construction project, we believe that by faithfully implementing habitat creation and management plans, environmental impacts can be minimized.” He added, “We will actively review and incorporate the supplementary and coordination requests from specialized agencies into the project.”

Location map of Sikman~Sasanggan (Daejeo Bridge).

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