Four Local Rivers in Chungnam Including Ungcheoncheon Upgraded to 'National Rivers'

Four local rivers in Chungnam, including Ungcheoncheon, will be upgraded to national rivers.

Chungnam Province announced on the 28th that the Ministry of Environment's National Water Resources Management Committee recently reviewed and approved the upgrade of four local rivers?Ungcheoncheon (13.9 km), Sapgyocheon (8.94 km), Gapcheon (5.01 km), and Byeongcheoncheon (3.20 km)?to national rivers.

A total of 20 local rivers were reviewed and approved for upgrade on this day, with Chungnam having the highest number of local rivers included in the national river upgrade list nationwide.

Considering national finances, the Ministry of Environment plans to designate and announce the phased upgrade of the other three local rivers in Chungnam to national rivers by 2025, starting with Ungcheoncheon next year.

Ungcheoncheon holds significance as the first national river designated in the Geum River West Sea area, which previously had no national rivers. Chungnam Province expects that the upgrade of Ungcheoncheon to a national river will enable the phased establishment of basic river plans by region and national river maintenance projects, thereby accelerating river maintenance projects in the Geum River West Sea area.

In particular, since local rivers included in the drainage impact area of national rivers can have national projects promoted together, it is expected that national support for local river maintenance within the province will also expand.

Previously, as part of expanding river maintenance projects and increasing national support for local rivers, Chungnam Province has continuously requested the Ministry of Environment to upgrade local rivers in the province that meet the criteria for national river designation to national rivers.

The Ministry of Environment is reportedly planning to promote the upgrade of an additional 10 local rivers to national rivers by 2027. Chungnam Province plans to prioritize local rivers urgently needing flood safety and respond accordingly for their upgrade to national rivers.

Kim Ki-young, Deputy Governor of Chungnam Province, said, “The simultaneous upgrade of four local rivers in the province to national rivers is an unprecedented achievement,” and added, “Chungnam Province will focus administrative efforts to ensure that the upgraded national rivers are promptly maintained.”