Gyeonggi-do Launches Intensive Crackdown on Illegal Activities in Rivers and Valleys

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is implementing the 'Measures to Prevent Illegal Activities and Unauthorized Garbage Dumping in Rivers and Valleys' starting this month, marking one year since the clean restoration project of rivers and valleys in the province began.

The purpose of this measure is to prevent the recurrence of illegal activities such as illegal facility installation, unauthorized occupation, illegal business operations, and unauthorized garbage dumping.

The province will first deploy 237 personnel, including valley keepers and honorary monitors, to eradicate various illegal activities such as 'tent reservation' (tent albakgi), illegal structure reinstallation, and unreported business operations. Surveillance activities will be strengthened, including weekend duty at major valleys where many people gather.

In particular, clear illegal activities will be subject to strong measures such as demolition in cooperation with city and county governments according to relevant laws, and additional personnel will be secured.

Additionally, to prevent unauthorized garbage dumping, temporary garbage collection points will be installed at major valley locations such as cooking and camping permitted areas, and active promotion of the prohibition of unauthorized dumping will be conducted through installation of guide signs and banners.

To this end, 123 banners for illegal reporting of unauthorized garbage dumping and for encouraging visitors to take their garbage back have been distributed and posted. The locations of temporary garbage collection points will be indicated on leaflets, which will be distributed to visitors through river and valley keepers.

Furthermore, regular cleaning operations will be conducted in cooperation with local volunteer groups, nearby military units, and city and county governments. Various promotional videos and leaflets will be produced and utilized to encourage citizens' active participation in the restoration of clean valleys, such as 'Take Your Garbage Back' and 'Do Not Dump Illegally.'

Management of cooking and camping activities near rivers and valleys will also be strengthened.

Permitted areas will be guided and managed to operate healthily with the installation of convenience facilities, and illegal cooking and camping activities will be strictly dealt with according to the 'River Act' and other relevant laws.

Ko Gang-su, Director of the River Division of the province, emphasized, "We will make every effort to supervise and manage so that the cleanly restored rivers and valleys can be continuously maintained."

Under the River Act, unauthorized occupation of river areas without permission is punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW; unauthorized dumping of household waste is subject to a fine of up to 1 million KRW; illegal cooking and camping activities are punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW, or a fine of up to 5 million KRW.