[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Seol Hoon, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the 'Four Major Rivers Project' for exacerbating flood damage. Meanwhile, some members of the United Future Party claim that the Four Major Rivers Project has a flood prevention effect.
At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 10th, Seol said, "If the 22 trillion won budget for the Four Major Rivers Project under the Lee Myung-bak administration had been used to inspect tributaries and branch streams, flood casualties could have been prevented," adding, "Experts have the same analysis regarding the collapse of the Nakdong River dam."
He emphasized, "The United Future Party is even using flood damage as a reason to criticize the government. However, this is not true," and added, "It has already been concluded that the Four Major Rivers Project was not a flood prevention project but rather a preliminary step for the Korean Peninsula Grand Canal project. Environmental groups have also stated that tributaries and branch streams should be inspected first." He continued, "The United Future Party should unite to help with damage recovery instead of engaging in political strife by praising the Four Major Rivers Project."
Earlier, Jeong Jin-seok, a member of the United Future Party, wrote on his Facebook page the day before, "Many people say, 'What would have happened if the Four Major Rivers Project had not existed this time?'" and added, "If the project had been expanded to branch streams and tributaries after completing the Four Major Rivers Project, wouldn't we have been able to better defend against the current flooding?" Song Seok-jun, also a member of the United Future Party, said, "Seeing nationwide flood damage, just thinking about how much more devastating our society would have been if the Four Major Rivers maintenance had not been done is horrifying."
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