Geum River Estuary Task Force Criticizes Seocheon County for “Pie-in-the-Sky Policies” Again

Claims for Seawater Circulation and Tidal Power Generation Clash with Government Research and Pangyo District Water Supply Project
"Prioritize the Special Act on Estuary Restoration, Stop Policy Confusion"

The Geum River Estuary Ecological Restoration Task Force (headed by Yang Geumbong) criticized Seocheon County’s claims regarding seawater circulation and tidal power generation at the Geum River estuary in Chungnam, calling them “pie-in-the-sky policies.”

With the government having designated the ecological restoration of the Geum and Yeongsan River estuaries as a national agenda item, the task force pointed out that Seocheon County’s independent policies not only clash with existing research and national projects but could also lead to policy confusion.

In a statement released on the 13th, the task force noted that Seocheon County’s proposals to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment-such as permanent opening, tidal power generation, and waterway restoration-not only contradict the “partial seawater circulation” direction derived from government research, but also directly conflict with the multipurpose agricultural water supply project for the Pangyo District, which is currently underway at a scale of approximately 200 billion won.

Previously, on the 6th, task force advisor and Seocheon County Council member Lee Kangsun also stated at a press briefing that “Seocheon County’s claims for seawater circulation and tidal power generation are incompatible with existing national projects,” emphasizing that “experts have consistently pointed out that the Seocheon coastal area is not suitable for tidal power generation.”

He criticized, “Mentioning tidal power generation based on flawed data is an ignorant judgment.”

In particular, there are concerns that the construction of the Gilsancheon-Panggyocheon waterway, installation of the Pangyo District water intake, and the impact of national water supply projects on seawater do not structurally align with Seocheon County’s proposals for permanent opening and tidal power generation.

The task force argued, “If permanent opening is implemented, the intake and pumping stations would have to be relocated tens of kilometers upstream, which would require astronomical costs,” questioning the feasibility of the proposal.

Seocheon County’s lack of consistency has also come under scrutiny.

Criticism has arisen over the fact that County Governor Kim Kiwoong, who advocated for canal construction during his candidacy, later removed it from his pledges and simply renamed it “waterway restoration” while pushing it forward; that he has not apologized for the controversy over his “Class 2 water at the Geum River estuary” remark; and that tidal power generation was proposed as a presidential pledge after only a single forum-leading to accusations of “hasty administration.”

The task force expressed concern, stating, “The Lee Jaemyung administration has adopted the ecological restoration of the Geum and Yeongsan River estuaries as a national agenda, and government research will begin next year. Seocheon County’s unrealistic proposals could become an obstacle to the implementation of this national project.”

They further emphasized, “Many experts and research projects have already presented reasonable alternatives. What Seocheon County should focus on now is supporting the enactment of the ‘Special Act on Estuary Restoration.’”

Meanwhile, the Geum River Estuary Ecological Restoration Task Force held its inaugural ceremony on October 23 and once again raised the need for national-level estuary ecological restoration, citing deteriorating water quality, damage to the fisheries industry, and changes to tidal flats following the construction of the estuary barrage.

This marks the resumption of efforts 12 years after then-Seocheon County Governor Na Soyul launched the Geum River Pilgrimage Group in 2013 to call for seawater circulation in the Geum River.

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