"Regret Over Announcing Promotion Plan Through Formation of Residents' Consultative Body Without Prior Consultation"
On the 18th, Kim Dongon, the governor of Cheongyang County, held a press conference at the county office and stated, "If measures for regional development and support plans that residents can accept are not prepared, we will oppose the construction of Jicheon Dam."
The construction of the Jicheon Dam, which the government and South Chungcheong Province are promoting in the areas of Cheongyang and Buyeo counties, is facing the risk of being derailed.
On the 18th, Kim Dongon, the governor of Cheongyang County, held a press conference at the county office and stated, "If measures for regional development and support plans that residents can accept are not prepared, we will oppose the construction of the Jicheon Dam."
He continued, "It is deeply regrettable that the plan to promote the construction of the Jicheon Dam through the formation of a residents' consultative body was announced without prior consultation, especially when we have not received satisfactory answers to the seven issues the county requested from the Ministry of Environment."
He added, "We will participate in the formation of the residents' consultative body proposed by South Chungcheong Province."
Previously, the county requested the Ministry of Environment to address the following regarding the construction of the Jicheon Dam last year: designation of a water source protection zone; regulations and administrative sanctions under other laws; measures to prevent and compensate for fog damage; support measures to offset submergence damage; solutions to concerns about the collapse of the Jicheon embankment; measures to prevent green algae damage and protect the ecosystem; and the establishment of institutional measures at the government level.
Governor Kim said, "If the measures requested by the county are prepared and sufficiently discussed through the residents' consultative body, we can decide whether to support or oppose the dam construction based on the opinions of the county residents," indicating that the dam construction plan is likely to be scrapped.
In particular, it is expected that the formation of the residents' consultative body will also face difficulties. The Committee Against Jicheon Dam Construction stated, "This is merely a token gesture," and "It is a formal procedure to meet legal requirements in order to push ahead with dam construction, and nothing more than a deception, so we have no intention of participating in the consultative body."
Previously, Governor Kim Taeheum proposed the formation of a residents' consultative body on the 6th, but there are concerns that this will not be enough to fundamentally resolve the conflict unless the issues raised by Cheongyang County to the Ministry of Environment are addressed.
Furthermore, as some residents are opposing the construction of the Jicheon Dam, it is unclear whether discussions through the consultative body will proceed smoothly.
The construction of the Jicheon Dam has been promoted as one of the core policies of South Chungcheong Province, but it has failed to make progress due to strong opposition from some residents. As a result, there is a growing possibility that Governor Kim Taeheum's political standing may be shaken, and calls are increasing for him to step in directly to seek a solution.
In addition, the lack of administrative capacity of South Chungcheong Province to mediate local conflicts is also being criticized. There are claims that South Chungcheong Province failed to communicate with residents during the dam construction process, exposing only administrative shortcomings.
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