Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 4th that it has formed the 'Gulpocheon Watershed Council' and signed an agreement with four local governments sharing the Gulpocheon stream to achieve efficient and systematic management and development of the river. The participating local governments are Bupyeong-gu and Gyeyang-gu in Incheon, Gangseo-gu in Seoul, and Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province.
Gulpocheon is the first tributary of the Han River located in the lower reaches of the Han River. It originates in Ilsin-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, passes through Gyeyang-gu and Bucheon City, and flows into the main stream of the Han River at Singok-ri, Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province. Since its designation as a national river in 2016, it has faced difficulties in unified maintenance due to being divided among the administrative districts of five local governments.
Accordingly, Bucheon City sought to establish an integrated Gulpocheon operation process and promoted an agreement on the formation of the Gulpocheon Watershed Council through the consent procedures of each local government.
Through the agreement, the five local governments plan to actively participate in the Ministry of Environment's Gulpocheon river maintenance project, ensure continuity of walking trails, bicycle paths, and embankment roads along Gulpocheon, discuss river management measures such as mowing, tree care, and installation and management of waterfront facilities, and promote mutual cooperation for water quality improvement and aquatic ecosystem restoration of Gulpocheon.
Jo Yong-ik, Mayor of Bucheon City, stated, "This agreement is significant in that the five local governments share a consensus on establishing a unified management system for Gulpocheon and will actively cooperate." He added, "We will continue to discuss and collaborate with neighboring local governments so that Gulpocheon can become a better resident-friendly waterfront space."
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