Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, "Reconsideration of Moon Government's Four Major Rivers Policy Following Board of Audit and Inspection Results"

Noh "Issue of Bo Opening Should Not Be Approached Politically"

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, stated that the Moon Jae-in administration's Four Major Rivers policy could be reconsidered following the results of the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit.

On the 4th, during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Environment held at the Government Complex Sejong, Park Dae-su, a member of the People Power Party, and Im E-ja from the same party asked, "In light of the Board of Audit and Inspection's public audit results on the ongoing Moon administration's policy to dismantle and open the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs, what will be done if it is revealed that a specific civic group pushed for the majority of experts in the Four Major Rivers and Planning Committee?" Minister Han responded accordingly.

Minister Han said, "If the audit results show that the evaluation of the Four Major Rivers weirs was not conducted fairly, the legitimacy of the handling plans for the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs will be lost."

He also expressed an intention to increase the utilization of the Four Major Rivers weirs. On the same day, the Ministry of Environment stated, "We will comprehensively and scientifically analyze various factors such as water quality, ecology, water use, and waterfront to establish an optimal operation plan for the weirs in response to the climate crisis," adding, "We will reflect the results of the ongoing Board of Audit and Inspection's public audit." The Ministry of Environment also mentioned in the presidential work report last July that it would prepare measures to enhance the usability of the Four Major Rivers weirs.

This is the first time Minister Han has mentioned reconsidering the Four Major Rivers policy. Even after the current administration took office, the Ministry of Environment only provided general responses such as "We will increase the utilization of the Four Major Rivers weirs." Minister Han previously served as the environmental secretary at the presidential office during the Lee Myung-bak administration.

Lee Soo-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized, "The issue of opening the weirs should not be approached politically," adding, "While blue-green algae toxins threaten water, air, agricultural products, and the public, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration seems to prioritize protecting the Four Major Rivers weirs over health and the environment." Referring to the severe blue-green algae outbreak in the Nakdong River this June, Lee emphasized, "The Ministry of Environment has only taken supplementary measures such as spraying algae removal agents instead of restoring water flow by opening the weirs, thereby increasing the risk."