14 Years of Long-Awaited Project Solved Through Cooperation Between Jeonnam and Jeonbuk Local Governments

Damyang-gun and Sunchang-gun Complete 'Cutoff Wall Removal' to Expand Damyangho Reservoir Storage Capacity

Local governments and related organizations in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk have attracted attention by cooperating to resolve a 14-year-old resident petition project.

On the 29th, Damyang-gun in Jeonnam announced that it had completed the removal of the cutoff wall to expand the water storage capacity of Damyangho, a case that attracted attention for solving residents' petitions beyond the metropolitan local governments of Sunchang-gun in Jeonbuk.

The cutoff wall of the water intake tunnel in Gurim-myeon, Sunchang-gun, a long-standing resident petition, was removed, and a water flow ceremony praying for a good harvest was held.

The water flow ceremony was attended by Lee Byeong-no, mayor of Damyang-gun; Choi Young-il, mayor of Sunchang-gun; Lee Gae-ho, member of the National Assembly; Choi Yong-man, chairman of Damyang-gun; provincial council members; county council members; and about 50 residents.

Damyangho was designed in 1976 so that 24% of the water would be indirectly supplied from the water intake tunnel in Gurim-myeon, Sunchang-gun. However, in March 2010, to overcome drought, residents of Sunchang-gun installed a 2-meter-high concrete cutoff wall in the water intake tunnel, limiting the amount of water inflow.

To resolve this, Damyang-gun, Sunchang-gun, the Damyang and Sunchang branches of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, and representatives of residents in Gurim-myeon, Sunchang-gun, prepared a plan to cooperate on water supply and various issues in the habitual drought area of Geumgwa-myeon, Sunchang-gun, and signed a business agreement on August 31 last year.

Subsequently, Damyang-gun made multifaceted efforts, including visits to central government departments and the National Assembly, to promptly solve the drought problem in the Geumgwa-myeon area. As a result, it was selected as a basic survey district for the rural water use system reorganization project (Damyang-Sunchang), which will cost about 6 billion KRW, secured 300 million KRW for the service fee, and is currently conducting the basic plan survey.

With the removal of the cutoff wall, it will be easier to secure the water storage rate of Damyangho, making it possible to supply agricultural water smoothly to six myeon in Damyang, Jangseong, and Gwangju Metropolitan City even during droughts.

Furthermore, once the rural water use system reorganization project is completed, it is expected to provide stable agricultural water supply to about 8 hectares in Bongseo-ri, Geumseong-myeon, Damyang-gun, and about 80 hectares in Geumgwa-myeon, Sunchang-gun, which are habitual drought areas.

Lee Byeong-no, mayor of Damyang-gun, said, “This water flow ceremony is not just a simple cutoff wall removal event but signifies coexistence achieved through wide-area cooperation among local governments in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, the Rural Community Corporation, and the efforts of local residents.” He added, “I wish for a bountiful harvest without water shortage this year as well, and I deeply thank all those involved, including Damyang-gun, Sunchang-gun, the Rural Community Corporation, and residents, who have worked hard so far.”

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