Seoul City Announces Public Contest for Water Quality Conservation Activities by Private Organizations

Approximately 200 Million Won Planned for Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 5th that it will provide a total of 194 million KRW in support for the ‘Water Quality Conservation Activities Private Organization Support Project’ throughout this year. By monitoring water pollution activities in major rivers and conducting purification activities, the plan aims to create clean rivers and elevate local residents' awareness of environmental conservation to a higher level.

In this regard, the city will publicly recruit a total of 12 nonprofit private organizations to participate in this year’s project. Applications will be accepted through the e-Naradoom National Treasury Subsidy Integrated Management System until the 20th.

The recruitment fields are broadly divided into ‘Designated Recruitment’ and ‘General Recruitment.’ ‘Designated Recruitment’ consists of six sectors: ▲Monitoring and purification activities for water pollution in the main stream of the Han River ▲Water quality conservation activities and river maintenance in Jungnangcheon, Tancheon, Anyangcheon, and Hongjecheon ▲Projects to create facilities for rainwater retention and absorption, among others. One organization will be selected for each sector.

‘General Recruitment’ is a category where private organizations can freely propose creative and original ideas to improve the water quality of the Han River and its tributaries beyond the designated recruitment areas. A total of six organizations will be selected.

Eligibility requires that, as of the announcement date (the 3rd), the organization must be a nonprofit private organization as defined by the ‘Nonprofit Private Organization Support Act’ located in Seoul. Nonprofit corporation establishment permits or unique number certificates issued by the tax office do not qualify. However, to strengthen responsibility, only organizations that can bear at least 10% of the total project cost as self-contribution are eligible to participate.

Applications will be evaluated by the ‘Project Selection Review Committee’ based on scoring criteria including expertise and project execution capability, and the selection results will be announced on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website as early as early March. Selected private organizations will receive project funding of up to 20 million KRW.

Yeonho Choi, Director of the Flood Safety Division of Seoul City, stated, “Preventing water pollution requires not only public efforts but also private interest and participation.” He added, “Through the ‘Water Quality Conservation Activities Private Organization Support Project,’ we actively support private-level water quality conservation activities to create a pleasant river environment and hope to spread citizens’ water quality conservation activities and awareness.”