Heechul Kim of Gangwon Assembly: "Service Pipes Aged 37.6%... Urgent Need for Safe Domestic Water Supply"

Call for Improved Management of Clean and Safe Domestic Water Supply
Gangwon's Proportion of Aged Water Pipes at 26.3%, Exceeding National Average
Urgent Need for Replacement of Aging Pipes, Corrosion Prevention, and Cleaning Measures

Heecheol Kim, Gangwon Provincial Assembly member. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Assembly

Heechul Kim, a member of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Assembly (People Power Party, Chuncheon), urged efforts to create an environment where residents can use clean and safe domestic water during a five-minute free speech at the third plenary session of the 342nd regular meeting of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Assembly held on December 12, 2025.

In his remarks, Assemblyman Kim stated, "The recent water shortage crisis in Gangneung has already demonstrated the importance of water as a resource and the water supply system," emphasizing, "We must strive for safe management of each pipeline-raw water pipes, transmission pipes, distribution pipes, and service pipes-that deliver domestic water."

He then presented current water supply statistics for Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, noting a higher proportion of aged pipelines compared to the national average. He pointed out that service pipes over 20 years old account for 35.2% of the total, amounting to approximately 5.38 million meters. In particular, the proportion of aged pipelines is higher for distribution pipes (19.7%) and service pipes (37.6%) than for raw water pipes (18%) and transmission pipes (18%), compared to national averages, adding, "Our province is more likely to face problems due to aging water pipes."

According to 2023 water supply statistics released by the Ministry of Environment, the proportion of aged pipelines in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province was 26.3%, higher than the national average of 23.2%.

Additionally, by pipeline type, the proportion of aged raw water pipes was 43.9% nationwide and 18% in Gangwon; for transmission pipes, 25.3% nationwide and 18% in Gangwon; for distribution pipes, 19.4% nationwide and 19.7% in Gangwon; and for service pipes, 29% nationwide and 37.6% in Gangwon, indicating that the proportions for distribution and service pipes in Gangwon exceed the national averages.

Notably, galvanized steel pipes, which are currently banned as water supply materials, are still in use for supply pipes in the province, totaling 159,050 meters, with 99.9% classified as aged pipelines.

Assemblyman Kim proposed, "First, more active investment is needed to replace aging water pipes; second, proactive management measures such as installing corrosion inhibitors or cleaning service pipes must be implemented." He stressed, "Such projects should be urgently carried out, especially in schools where children spend their days, as well as in facilities for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities."

He concluded, "Although our province possesses cleaner water resources than any other region, our residents are suffering from both economic hardship due to high water costs and safety risks caused by the high proportion of aging pipelines. Creating an environment where all residents can access safe and clean water is not just an administrative task but a fundamental human rights and public health issue. I therefore call on all relevant agencies for active interest and cooperation."

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