"Opportunistic Administration" Seocheon County Faces Controversy Over False and Added Items in Presidential Pledge

Suspicions of Manipulated Tidal Range Data at Geumgang Estuary
Unofficial Projects Secretly Included in Proposal

Controversy has arisen over allegations that Seocheon County in South Chungcheong Province included false figures in a document proposing regional pledges to the president and added projects that were not officially part of the pledges.

According to an investigation by Asia Economy on August 6, Seocheon County submitted a proposal to the government for the 'Geumgang Estuary Seawater Circulation and Renewable Energy Base Construction' project, in which it listed the 'average tidal range of the Geumgang Estuary Barrage' as 6.9 meters.

However, records from a 2011 water quality and environment study, a 2013 salinity diffusion experiment, and recent materials from a Geumgang seawater circulation forum all indicate the figure as 4.4 meters.

'Tidal range' refers to the difference in water level between high and low tide; the larger the figure, the more favorable it is for the economic viability of tidal power generation.

This has led to suspicions that the county may have intentionally manipulated the figures to exaggerate the justification for tidal power generation.

In addition, it was revealed that the county included in its proposal the 'Gilsancheon-Panggyocheon Waterway Restoration Project,' also known as the 'canal project,' which was not part of the official pledges.

This project was not included in the pledges proposed by the Democratic Party's Boryeong-Seocheon Regional Committee or South Chungcheong Province, nor was there any prior consultation with the Seocheon County Council.

Kim Eoksu, Executive Director of the National Council for Estuary Ecosystem Restoration, stated, "It raises doubts about sincerity that County Governor Kim Kiwung, who had previously opposed seawater circulation, suddenly held a forum and expressed support," adding, "This is a typical example of opportunistic administration, trying to piggyback on a national agenda without any preparation for three years."

A county official explained, "The figure in the document was an error and was not intentionally manipulated; it was simply omitted during the revision process."

An official from South Chungcheong Province also acknowledged, "We admit that the review was insufficient," and added, "We will ensure a more thorough review in the future."

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