"Was the Flood Damage a 'Man-Made Disaster'?…Dam Management Investigation Committee to Hold First Meeting Next Week"

Ministry of Environment Forms 23-Member Panel of Private Experts
Investigates 5 Dams... Subcommittees Organized by Watershed
Strict Legal Measures... Decides Not to Determine Compensation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The 'Dam Management Investigation Committee,' which will investigate whether dam discharges during the recent heavy rainfall were appropriate, will begin full-scale activities starting next week. The Ministry of Environment plans to take strict measures, including criminal punishment, according to the law if any culpability is found as a result of the investigation.

According to the Ministry of Environment on the 19th, the Dam Management Investigation Committee, which will investigate the appropriateness of dam operations in areas affected by flooding during last month's heavy rainfall, will hold its first meeting next week. This comes about a month after criticisms arose that sudden dam discharges caused large-scale flooding damage in downstream areas.

The committee is composed of a total of 23 private experts, chaired by Professor Jang Seok-hwan of Daejin University (Vice President of the Korean Water Resources Association). To ensure the independence and objectivity of the investigation, stakeholders such as the government, dam operation-related organizations, and local governments were excluded, and only private experts were appointed.

However, to secure acceptance from local residents and enhance credibility, regional consultative bodies will be formed for each dam so that residents' opinions can be conveyed to the committee. These regional consultative bodies will, if necessary, jointly investigate the site with the committee and attend committee meetings to communicate residents' opinions.

The committee will investigate the appropriateness of dam operation management and downstream river conditions, and will also propose improvements for dam management. However, it will not decide on compensation or indemnity based on the investigation results.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae Photo by Yonhap News

The investigation targets a total of five locations. In addition to the Seomjingang Dam, Yongdam Dam, and Hapcheon Dam announced by Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae during a briefing on the 17th of last month, Daecheong Dam and Namgang Dam have been added. A Ministry of Environment official explained, "During the formation of the committee, there were requests from the relevant local governments," adding, "Since damage also occurred in the downstream areas of Daecheong Dam and Namgang Dam, they were included in the investigation targets to review the appropriateness of dam operations."

The committee members are divided into common experts (7 people) recommended by academic societies and related ministries, and legal experts, as well as dam-specific subcommittee experts (16 people) recommended by local governments. By watershed, three subcommittees will operate: Seomjingang Dam, Yongdam and Daecheong Dams, and Hapcheon and Namgang Dams.

The end date of the committee's activities will be decided within the committee, considering the content and scope of the investigation.

The Ministry of Environment plans to take strict measures according to relevant laws if culpability in dam operation management is revealed through this investigation. A Ministry of Environment official stated, "We will transparently disclose the investigation results, and if problems in dam operation management are revealed based on the results, we will take action according to relevant laws." He added, "We also plan to prepare improvement measures for current manuals and design standards, considering climate change."

Earlier, Minister Cho said, "We will clarify without a shred of doubt whether dam operations were appropriate. Through the committee's detailed investigation, we will assess the degree of violations and their impact," and added, "We will request disciplinary actions or criminal penalties according to relevant laws."