Hantan River to Become a National River Next Year... 123 Billion KRW in National Funding Provided

Hantan River National River Promotion Location Map

The 24.9 km stretch of the local river ‘Hantan River’ flowing through Yeoncheon and Pocheon in northern Gyeonggi, from the confluence with the Imjin River to downstream of the Hantan River Dam, will be upgraded to a national river next year.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 29th that the Ministry of Environment’s National Water Resources Management Committee reviewed and approved a proposal on the 27th to upgrade 20 local rivers, including the Hantan River, that require flood response, to national rivers.

Once upgraded to a national river, maintenance projects for the river will be strengthened, contributing to the protection of residents’ lives and property by preventing flood damage.

Also, while general local river maintenance projects must be fully funded by provincial budgets, upgrading to a national river means that all maintenance and management costs will be covered by the national government.

The Hantan River originates in North Korea and flows through Cheorwon in Gangwon Province and Pocheon and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province before joining the Imjin River.

Although Sincheon, a local river that joined the Hantan River, was upgraded to a national river in January 2020, the Hantan River itself remained classified as a local river, which was considered inappropriate in terms of river system management.

With this upgrade of the Hantan River to a national river, the river system will be aligned, allowing the national government to promptly and systematically maintain and efficiently manage the river. Additionally, Gyeonggi Province will achieve a local fiscal savings effect of 123 billion KRW.

Currently, Gyeonggi Province has 20 national rivers and 498 local rivers. The maintenance rate for national rivers, which receive national funding, is 81.3%, whereas the maintenance rate for local rivers is relatively low at 53.1%.

Park Seong-sik, head of the River Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "It is regrettable that more local rivers in the province have not been upgraded to national rivers, but we will continue to make efforts to promote the upgrading of local rivers to national rivers, maintain a balanced and systematic river management between national and local rivers, and do our best to protect the lives and property of every resident."

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