Over 30 Deaths from Heavy Rain... Political Circles Debate '4 Major Rivers Project Validity' Daily
Civilians Criticize, "Have the Fight After Flood Recovery Is Complete"
On the afternoon of the 8th, the area around Dugok Village, Dugok-ri, Hadong-eup, Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, was submerged due to heavy rain that started the previous day. On the left is the Seomjin River, which connects to Gwangyang City, Jeonnam. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As record-breaking heavy rains cause increasing human and property damage nationwide, political circles are intensifying disputes over the appropriateness of the Four Major Rivers Project during the Lee Myung-bak administration. The problem is the public's fatigue in viewing this issue. Criticism is growing over turning natural disasters into political battles.
The unexpected dispute over the validity of the Four Major Rivers Project arose on the 8th when embankments near Jangseon-ri, Gokseong-eup, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, including the embankment near the confluence of Godalcheon Stream, collapsed. A large branch of the Seomjin River is formed here, and criticism emerged in political circles suggesting that this area was excluded from the Four Major Rivers Project.
Then, on the following day, the 9th, nearly 300mm of concentrated heavy rain continued for two days in the Changnyeong-gun area of Gyeongsangnam-do, causing embankment collapses on the Nakdong River, which was part of the Four Major Rivers Project. This led to criticism that the weirs blocked water flow, causing the embankments to burst.
Jeong Jin-seok, a member of the Future United Party, claimed on his Facebook that the Four Major Rivers Project could have reduced flood damage. He emphasized, "Many say, 'What would have happened if the Four Major Rivers Project had not been done this time?' I also think that if the project had been expanded to tributaries and streams after completing the Four Major Rivers Project, we could have better defended against the current flooding."
He added, "However, the Moon Jae-in administration is still determined to demolish the weirs installed in the Four Major Rivers Project at this very moment. It is truly outrageous and heartbreaking."
On the afternoon of the 8th, the area around Dugok Village, Dugok-ri, Hadong-eup, Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, was submerged due to heavy rain that started the previous day. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Song Seok-jun, a Future United Party lawmaker and former Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official, also emphasized on his Facebook the same day, "Looking at the 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 terrifying."
Regarding the Four Major Rivers Project, he criticized, "I am curious what those who vehemently opposed the Four Major Rivers Project will say after seeing the current situation. The government should have paid attention to maintaining tributaries and streams earlier after the Four Major Rivers Project, but it has neglected this for too long."
He further claimed, "Under the Moon Jae-in administration, water management was centralized by transferring flood management and water resource duties from the Ministry of Land to the Ministry of Environment. Since then, we are experiencing floods like this. There is a lot of confusion in land management."
Ha Tae-kyung also pointed out on Facebook, "As the Seomjin River embankment collapse and river flooding continue, a reevaluation of the Four Major Rivers Project is underway," adding, "The Seomjin River basin suffered the most damage in this sudden heavy rain. If the Seomjin River had been included in the Four Major Rivers Project and maintenance of tributaries and streams had continued, the disaster damage could have been greatly reduced." He continued, "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 even forcibly dismantled the weirs. Maintenance of tributaries and streams was also halted," criticizing the government.
In response to such opposition party attacks, the ruling party claims there is no basis. Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party and former head of the Blue House National Planning Situation Room, criticized, "Some members of the Future United Party claim that if the Four Major Rivers Project had been done on the Seomjin River and others, this flooding could have been prevented. It is truly absurd," adding, "The harmful effects of the Four Major Rivers Project have already been proven by various data and studies. Doing this will not excuse your mistakes."
On the afternoon of the 10th, in Sinan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, emergency flood recovery cleaning team members from the Buk-gu Office and employees from the Dong Administrative Welfare Center are loading flood-damaged household items onto a collection vehicle. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Seol Hoon, a senior member of the Democratic Party, pointed out at a party meeting on the 10th, "The opposition party is bringing up praise for the Four Major Rivers Project and using even flood damage as a political attack, but this is not true." He emphasized, "The project, which was promoted with a massive budget of 22 trillion won, was concluded in a 2013 Board of Audit and Inspection report as 'not a flood prevention project but a project to revive the Korean Peninsula Grand Canal project.'
In fact, during the Park Geun-hye administration, the Prime Minister's Office formed the 'Four Major Rivers Project Investigation and Evaluation Committee,' which evaluated that the project achieved some results such as △ flood prevention, △ securing water resources, and △ improving water environment. However, the 2018 Board of Audit and Inspection report titled 'Inspection and Performance Analysis of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project' stated that no significant results were found indicating that the project reduced flood damage in heavy rain areas.
While political disputes over the validity of the Four Major Rivers Project intensify, ordinary citizens criticize it as 'frustrating.'
Kim, a company employee in his 40s working in Seoul, criticized, "Politicians fighting is nothing new, but arguing over the Four Major Rivers Project amid the ongoing flood disaster that everyone is suffering from is inappropriate." He added, "Can't the fighting wait until this disaster is over? I hope both ruling and opposition parties pay attention to flood recovery."
Another office worker in his 30s, also named Kim, said, "I think flood recovery should come first now," emphasizing, "After everything is over, fight over the Four Major Rivers Project or whatever else you want." He also said, "I hope the National Assembly creates a special law for flood victims."
On the 9th, Jeonbuk Sunchang-gun employees and residents are carrying out flood recovery in Taeja Village, Jeokseong-myeon, which was damaged by heavy rain. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as of 5 a.m. on the 11th, the number of flood victims nationwide reached 7,512 people in 4,349 households across 11 cities and provinces. Among them, 3,046 people in 1,647 households have not yet returned home.
Human casualties total 31 deaths, 11 missing, and 8 injured. The highest number of deaths occurred in Gyeonggi and Jeollanam-do, with 8 each, excluding the damage from the Chuncheon Uiamho accident.
Facility damage exceeded 20,000 cases. Public facilities such as roads and bridges accounted for 8,470 cases, and private facilities such as houses and farmland totaled 12,356 cases, recording a total of 20,826 cases. Among these, 11,692 cases (56.1%) have been restored.
An official from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated, "We will strengthen pre-surveillance, control, and evacuation in areas at risk of human casualties and do our best to quickly assess damage and carry out emergency restoration."
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