Hapcheon County Council Strongly Opposes Installation of Hwanggang Intake Facility

Protest with over 100 people including the Gunmin Countermeasure Committee in front of the Ministry of Environment building in Sejong City

Protest against Hwanggang Lower Stream Wide-Area Water Intake Facility
[Image source=Hapcheon County Council]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Hapcheon County Council in Gyeongnam held a strong protest on the 24th in front of the Ministry of Environment building with about 100 members of the Hapcheon County Residents’ Countermeasures Committee, stating, “The Hwanggang water intake facility, which was planned without the consent of the residents and ignoring the reality of Hapcheon County, must never be installed.”

Before the rally, County Governor Moon Jun-hee, Chairman Bae Mong-hee, and Committee Chairman Lee Jong-cheol delivered a “Petition Opposing the Installation Plan of the Hwanggang Water Intake Facility” to Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae, strongly protesting prior to the deliberation and resolution of the “Nakdong River Basin Integrated Water Management Plan.”

The rally proceeded with fighting speeches led by Committee Chairman Lee Jong-cheol, followed by speeches from County Governor Moon Jun-hee, Chairman Bae Mong-hee, Provincial Assemblyman Kim Yoon-chul, and Youth Union President Lee Seong-geun, concluding with the announcement of a resolution.

The Residents’ Countermeasures Committee demanded the condemnation of the Ministry of Environment’s forced installation of the Hwanggang water intake facility, absolute opposition to the facility without the consent of local residents, and the complete cancellation of the installation plan that threatens the survival rights of Hapcheon residents.

The rally grew increasingly intense, with Chairman Bae Mong-hee, Committee Chairman Lee Jong-cheol, Auditor Ma Hong-ryeol, Saemaul Association Chairman of Daebyeong-myeon Kwon Jae-young, and Mr. Song Jeong-ho of Daebyeong-myeon strongly condemning the installation of the Hwanggang water intake facility through head-shaving protests.

Additionally, in front of the Ministry of Environment that day, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements and nearby Changnyeong County and Geochang County held opposition rallies including plans for diversifying Nakdong River water intake sources as part of the “Nakdong River Integrated Water Management Plan.”