"No Flood Prevention Effect from Four Major Rivers Weirs," to Ministry of Environment... Jeong Jin-seok Calls It "Corruption of Managers"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jeong Jin-seok, the most senior member of the United Future Party, fiercely criticized the Ministry of Environment's statement that "the Four Major Rivers dams have no flood prevention effect," calling it "the corruption of Ministry of Environment officials."

On the 13th, Jeong said on Facebook, "I was stunned to hear a senior official from the Ministry of Environment explain that 'the Four Major Rivers dams have no flood prevention effect. Rather, they raise the water level of the rivers.'"

He pointed out, "People who appear in various media in Seoul and say, 'Is it reasonable to claim that the Four Major Rivers project prevented floods?' should please go and ask the farmers living around the Four Major Rivers," adding, "Ask them whether floods have decreased or increased, and whether the water secured by the Four Major Rivers project helps with farming and daily life."

He continued, "Those who make the absurd claim that 'the dams (water-blocking facilities) raised the water level of the Four Major Rivers and thus increased the possibility of floods,' please stop," adding, "The dams of the Four Major Rivers are fully openable movable structures. The amount of water held back can be adjusted at any time, and if a flood is expected, the dams can be completely opened to let water flow downstream."

Jeong said, "I am fed up with the absurd claim that 'the Four Major Rivers should be restored to their natural state,' which has continued since the Four Major Rivers project," and sharply questioned, "Is the natural state the condition of the Four Major Rivers during the Gojoseon era, or the state during the 1925 Eulchuk Year Great Flood?"

He added, "The administration that tries to belittle the Four Major Rivers project and the bureaucrats who only watch that administration," and said, "I refute the Ministry of Environment officials' claims with the intention of leaving a record in history."

The United Future Party is raising its voice that floods were prevented by the Four Major Rivers project. On the 12th, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong' and said, "I thought it was inappropriate to engage in political and partisan debates about the Four Major Rivers during this flood disaster, so I did not speak first, but the main purpose of the Four Major Rivers is to solve water shortages," adding, "The areas around the Four Major Rivers have had a lot of sediment removed to enlarge the water basin, so there is a significant flood prevention function."