The Special Operations Association Declares 'Struggle Against the Government' Over Cuts to Resident Support Project Funds

Paldang 7 City and County Resident Delegations Joint Meeting
Discussion on Countermeasures Against Government Resident Support Project Budget Cuts

The Special Measures Area Water Quality Conservation Policy Council (co-chairs Kang Cheon-sim and Shin Yong-baek, hereinafter referred to as the Special Council) has declared a struggle against the government in response to the government's cut in resident support project funds.

The Special Measures Area Water Quality Conservation Policy Council is declaring a struggle against the government in response to the government's cutbacks on resident support project funds. Photo by the Special Measures Area Water Quality Conservation Policy Council

The resident delegation from the seven cities and counties of Paldang (Gapyeong, Gwangju, Namyangju, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Yongin, and Icheon) held a joint meeting of resident representatives and working-level members on the 6th to discuss countermeasures against the government's cut in resident support project funds.

As a result of the meeting, the resident delegation stated that they absolutely cannot tolerate the unilateral breach of promises made to the residents of the upper Paldang area and decided to promote a general rally against the abolition of the Hangang Act.

They claimed that the Ministry of Strategy and Finance ignored the nature of the Hangang Watershed Fund, which was created with money paid by residents of the lower Hangang who drink tap water, and cut 7.3 billion KRW from the 2025 resident support project funds.

In response, the resident delegation resolved to completely suspend resident representative activities from that day and transform into the Gyeonggi United Countermeasures Committee, intensifying their struggle against the government.

Starting from the 11th, they plan to inform residents of the seven cities and counties about the unfairness of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's cut in resident support project funds through banners and other means, and are prepared to go as far as pushing for the abolition of the Hangang Act, which broke promises made to residents, through large-scale rallies.

Kang Cheon-sim, co-chair of the Special Council, stated, “Since the enactment of the Hangang Act, the Paldang water source has achieved the target water quality of Grade 1, but regulatory improvements and expanded financial support for residents in the upper area have not been realized. Ultimately, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance has cut the purpose fund rather than the government fund. Promises made after the mandatory introduction of the total water pollution load management system in 2013, such as abolishing the designation notice of the special measures area, allowing large-scale planned development, and expanding resident support projects, have not been kept at all.”

They further emphasized, “The seven cities and counties in the Paldangho regulated area have no choice but to devote all their efforts to the struggle against the government for the abolition of the Hangang Act.”