Attending the Roundtable at the National Assembly...
"An Essential Task for Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries"
Park Jung-hyun, Governor of Buyeo County in South Chungcheong Province, strongly urged that the introduction of seawater circulation at the Geumgang Estuary Barrage be adopted as a major interregional national policy agenda for the 21st presidential election.
At a policy roundtable held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on the 22nd, titled “Adoption of the Yeongsangang and Geumgang Estuary Ecological Restoration as a Major Interregional National Policy Agenda,” Governor Park stated, “Since my tenure as Vice Governor of South Chungcheong Province in 2013, I have maintained deep interest in seawater circulation and have continuously pursued this initiative. Now is the time for it to bear fruit,” he emphasized.
The roundtable was hosted by the National Council for National Estuary Ecological Restoration and attended by key political figures such as Jin Sung-joon, Head of Policy at the Democratic Party of Korea; Lee Hak-young, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly; Shin Jung-hoon, Chair of the Public Administration and Security Committee; and Seo Wang-jin, Floor Leader of the Innovation Party of Korea, as well as academics and representatives from agricultural and fisheries organizations.
Governor Park said, “Ecological restoration of the Geumgang Estuary is a national task not only for farmers and fishermen but also for protecting public health, responding to the climate crisis, and achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets. It must be reflected as a national policy agenda through this presidential election.”
He further explained, “The partial seawater circulation method allows for ecological restoration without affecting agricultural water supplies, and practical budget-saving measures have also been prepared.”
Governor Park stressed, “Although some claim that farmers are opposed, in reality, there is strong demand among farmers for improved water quality and a stable water supply. Ecological restoration of the Geumgang Estuary is an essential task for sustainable agriculture and fisheries.”
Meanwhile, the National Council plans to continue cooperation among civil society, government, and political parties to ensure that the ecological restoration of the Geumgang and Yeongsangang estuaries is included as a major interregional national policy agenda for the next administration.
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