"Government Focused Solely on Dismantling Four Major Rivers Dams"... United Party Raises Calls for 'Four Major Rivers Reassessment'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The United Future Party is holding the ruling party accountable by citing the dismantling of the 'Four Major Rivers dams' as one of the causes of flood damage caused by nationwide heavy rains, while also initiating a 're-evaluation of the Four Major Rivers project.'

On the 10th, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the United Future Party, stated in a commentary, "There is a growing voice that government policies need to be reviewed from a long-term perspective," adding, "We must also listen to criticisms that, while zealously pursuing the ideologically driven dismantling of the 'Four Major Rivers dams,' systematic and comprehensive water management plans and river maintenance projects were neglected."

He emphasized, "Amid frequent tributary overflows caused by this damage, the 'Four Major Rivers tributary and stream maintenance project plan,' which was promoted in 2011 with the goal of flood prevention, was not realized due to opposition from the Democratic Party at the time," and added, "The Moon Jae-in administration must clarify how it plans to manage flood control for tributaries in the future."

The leadership of the United Future Party also mentioned the need to 're-evaluate the Four Major Rivers project.' Kim Jong-in, the party's emergency committee chairman, told reporters after the emergency committee meeting that morning, "There have been many debates about the Four Major Rivers project itself, but after experiencing the floods, I cannot help but think that it was not a wrong decision."

Jung Jin-seok, the most senior member of the party, also pointed out on Facebook, "Many people say, 'What would have happened if the Four Major Rivers project had not existed this time?'" He added, "If the project had been expanded to tributaries and streams after completing the Four Major Rivers project, we might have been able to better defend against the current flooding. The Moon Jae-in administration is still aggressively intent on demolishing the dams installed on the Four Major Rivers, which is truly outrageous and heartbreaking."

Assemblyman Ha Tae-kyung criticized, "As the Seomjin River embankment collapsed and river flooding continued, a re-evaluation of the Four Major Rivers project is underway. Since the Seomjin River was included in the Four Major Rivers project and tributary and stream maintenance projects continued, the damage from this disaster could have been greatly reduced," adding, "However, the Moon administration opposed the Four Major Rivers project simply because it was promoted by the Lee Myung-bak administration, and after coming to power, branded it as a deep-rooted evil and forcibly dismantled the dams. Tributary and stream maintenance projects were also halted."