"Unauthorized Bench Installation and Dakbaeksuk Sales"... Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 38 Illegal Activities in Valleys and Rivers

Cases of Illegal Activities Detected in Rivers and Valleys within Gyeonggi-do by the Special Judicial Police Unit

Business owners who illegally operated at recreational areas by occupying valleys without permission to install platforms, cooking and selling chicken soup, or unlawfully drawing river water to provide for water play to restaurant customers were extensively caught by the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 7th that from July 17 to August 11, they conducted crackdowns on 360 famous recreational sites including major valleys and rivers such as Gapyeong Yongsogyeok and Eobigyeok within the province, uncovering 38 cases of illegal activities.

Among the main violations, Pension A in Gapyeong-gun was caught for occupying land within the river area without permission and installing convenience facilities such as decks and swimming pools to provide to pension guests. Restaurant B in Gwangju-si was caught for unlawfully drawing river water and providing it for water play to customers using the restaurant.

Restaurant C in Gapyeong-gun was found to have occupied public waters without obtaining occupancy and usage permission from the Public Waters Management Authority, installed outdoor platforms and bungalows without reporting changes in business area, and cooked and sold chicken soup and duck soup.

Cafe D in Siheung-si was confirmed to have sold coffee and tea to visitors of a nearby reservoir by setting up tables and kitchen facilities without registering as a food service business.

Camping site E in Gapyeong-gun was caught operating without registration while providing facilities such as camping sites, washbasins, and restrooms.

Since 2019, Gyeonggi Province has actively cracked down on various illegal activities occurring mainly in valleys and rivers within the province through the Special Judicial Police and has promoted joint management with river management departments of the province and city/counties.

Accordingly, the number of illegal acts in valleys and rivers has decreased yearly: 142 cases in 2019, 74 in 2020, 47 in 2021, 68 in 2022, and 38 in 2023. However, illegal activities still persist in some recreational areas during the vacation season of July and August, evading administrative crackdowns.

Unauthorized occupation or use of river areas is punishable under the ‘River Act’ by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW. Unauthorized occupation or use of public waters is punishable under the ‘Public Waters Management and Reclamation Act’ by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

Additionally, unregistered food service business operations and failure to report changes in business area are punishable under the ‘Food Sanitation Act’ by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW, and unregistered camping site operations are punishable under the ‘Tourism Promotion Act’ by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police, stated, "Thanks to many efforts, valleys and rivers have become cleaner, and residents can use them safely and comfortably. However, we will continue to manage persistently to eradicate illegal activities that repeatedly occur intensively during the summer season."