Gwangju City Council Opposes Tourism Development Around Dongbok Dam

"Management and Preservation of Vital Water Source for 1.5 Million Gwangju Citizens Needed"

A view of Gwangju City Council.

Gwangju City Council stated on the 16th, "Dongbokho is the lifeline for Gwangju citizens, and regulations should not be unilaterally eased for tourism development."

On this day, the City Council expressed deep concern in a statement released under the name of 'All Council Members,' saying, "We are deeply concerned about Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok's proposal to the Minister of Environment during their meeting the previous day, suggesting the need to revise the 'Water Source Management Regulations' for tourism development, including the establishment of museums, exhibition spaces, and cafes for tourists around Dongbok Dam."

The council emphasized, "Dongbok Dam is a public water source directly linked to the lives of 1.5 million Gwangju citizens, and it is a matter of survival with intrinsic value," and reiterated, "We once again clearly state our opposition to easing regulations that would cause deterioration of the water quality of Dongbokho, the citizens' water source."

The council further stated, "Water source protection zones cannot be targets for regional development, and procedural legitimacy and the principle of coexistence must come first." They pointed out, "This proposal was unilaterally pushed forward without prior consultation with Gwangju City, and even before legality, there are serious questions about its reliability and legitimacy."

The council also reiterated, "Since the Ministry of Environment is responsible for comprehensive water quality management, it must prioritize water quality preservation and ecological protection," and emphasized, "Dongbokho is not a target for development but a vital water resource for citizens that must be managed and preserved sustainably."