Candidate Park Kwanyeol Pledges "Targeted Rationalization" of Paldang Water Source Regulations

Park Kwanyeol, Democratic Party's Gwangju Mayoral Candidate
Calls for Comprehensive Rationalization of Paldang Water Source Regulations
"Protecting Water Quality and Safeguarding Residents' Lives"

Park Kwanyeol, the Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Gwangju City, has raised the need for a complete rationalization of the water source management system, stating, "We must protect water quality, but we must also safeguard the lives of local residents," in relation to regulations on the Paldang water source.

Park Gwanyeol, candidate for mayor of Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province. Provided by candidate Park Gwanyeol

The Paldang basin is a key area responsible for supplying drinking water to 26 million residents of the Seoul metropolitan area. Until now, strict location and activity regulations have been applied to preserve water quality.

It is true that these regulations have contributed to some extent to improving the water quality of Paldang.

However, candidate Park pointed out that "the current regulations, due to excessive overlap, are severely restricting regional development."

In fact, out of the seven cities and counties in the Paldang basin, 4,271㎢—about 49% of the total area—are designated as various regulated zones, with multiple overlapping restrictions such as the Nature Conservation Zone (87.1%) and Special Countermeasure Zone (49.1%).

Structural issues that have existed since the initial design of the system are also being revealed.

In the case of Gwangju City, it has been pointed out that, during the process of designating water source protection zones, the boundaries of the greenbelt were applied as they were. As a result, the upper part of Yongdong-ri, Toechon-myeon, was designated as a water source protection zone, while the lower area—actually closer to the water system—was left as an unprotected area, leading to irrational boundary settings.

Candidate Park stated, "This kind of imbalance is far removed from practical water quality management on the ground and is perceived by residents as an unreasonable regulation."

He also pointed out, "Despite significant changes in conditions, such as improved civic awareness and advancements in water quality management technology since the designation of water source management areas, the current system remains stuck in outdated standards."

Accordingly, candidate Park presented the following key directions: ▲ Introduction of a precise, scientific data-based water quality management system ▲ Comprehensive review of overlapping regulations ▲ Readjustment of unreasonable boundary settings

▲ Improvement of land use regulations to protect residents' property rights and consider regional development.

Candidate Park stated, "What we need is not unconditional deregulation, but 'rational regulation,' where we protect what is necessary more strictly while boldly removing unnecessary restrictions,"

and emphasized, "I will innovate the system so that water source protection and regional development are not conflicting concepts, but can coexist."

Candidate Park also stressed, "There must be proper compensation for the sacrifices made by local residents who have protected the Paldang water source," adding, "From the perspective of national balanced development, policy support and institutional improvements for water source management areas must go hand in hand."

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