Five-Minute Speech at Provincial Assembly Plenary Session
"Please Protect the Nakdong River," Urges Lawmaker
On June 24, Honggu Kim (People Power Party, Sangju), a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly, delivered a five-minute speech at the plenary session, expressing strong opposition to the relocation of Daegu's water intake source to Andong Dam, also known as the "Clean Water Highway Project." He also called for a clear and proactive administrative response from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government regarding the issue.
Honggu Kim stated, "At the residents' briefing on the relocation of Daegu's water intake source to Andong Dam, hosted by the Ministry of Environment at the Sangju Culture Center, Sangju citizens voiced their resolute opposition. The sole reason for their anger is that a reduction in the flow of the Nakdong River would cause serious disruptions to the supply of agricultural, industrial, and domestic water in downstream areas. Daegu City has drawn up a plan to relocate its water intake source to Andong Dam and directly transport 460,000 tons of raw Nakdong River water per day to the Munsan and Maegok Water Purification Plants in Daegu. While the Ministry of Environment claims there will be no issues with water quantity in downstream areas, this is not the reality," he said.
He continued, "According to analysis by the National Institute of Environmental Research, modeling under the condition of withdrawing 460,000 tons per day directly downstream from Andong Dam predicts that the reference flow at Gwangsancheon in Uiseong will decrease by 19%, from 2.42 million tons to 1.96 million tons, and at Janggok-ri in Nakdong-myeon, Sangju, it will decrease by 10%, from 4.41 million tons to 3.95 million tons. The river water level will also be affected; when 460,000 tons are withdrawn daily, the water level in the section below Andong Dam and before the confluence with Naeseongcheon is expected to drop by up to 12 cm in severe drought and 17 cm in extreme drought," he added.
Honggu Kim further stated, "In Sangju, even now, every dry season, rivers and tributaries dry up, causing emergencies in securing agricultural water. The Clean Water Highway Project has also ignored procedural legitimacy. In 2022, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Environment, Daegu City, Gyeongbuk Province, and Gumi City agreed to jointly use the Haepyeong Water Intake Station. However, as follow-up reviews stalled due to Gumi City's opposition, the mayor of Daegu unilaterally broke the agreement and shifted the plan to intake from Andong Dam."
He continued, "During the decision-making process, there was no consultation whatsoever with regions that will be directly affected by water shortages, such as Yecheon, Sangju, Uiseong, and Gumi. Is the Nakdong River Daegu's water? Is it Andong's water? Why are these two local governments making such decisions unilaterally? If the goal is to secure safe drinking water, should Ulsan and Busan, which are further downstream than Daegu, also move their intake sources to Andong Dam? And how can a technical verification for a construction project costing over 1.85 trillion won be conducted in just six months with less than 100 million won?"
Honggu Kim also said, "The proposed daily water volume decreased from Daegu City's plan of 635,000 tons to the Ministry of Environment's plan of 450,000 tons, yet the pipeline diameter increased from 2,200 mm to 2,300 mm. Water is a public resource and belongs to all of us. This is not about promoting regional self-interest. If the survival rights of residents downstream from Andong Dam are threatened for the sake of the interests of a particular local government, this can never be considered just or reasonable administration." He urged, "Gyeongbuk Province must move beyond a neutral observer role and take an active role as a mediator in this matter."
He continued, "Gyeongbuk Province should immediately form a consultative table among local governments in the Nakdong River basin together with the Ministry of Environment and take a more proactive role in facilitating public discussion. It should not continue to evade responsibility by citing the lack of authority just because this is a project under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment. There is a need to establish a Gyeongbuk-style integrated water management council," he proposed.
Meanwhile, Daegu City had originally planned to relocate its water intake source to Gumi, but in November 2022, after Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo took office, the city abruptly announced it would change the intake source to Andong Dam. Daegu City has drawn up a plan to invest 1.5 trillion won to transport water from Andong Dam via pipelines to Daegu, 110 kilometers away, for use as drinking water.
Even after April 11, when Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo resigned to run in the People Power Party presidential primary, Daegu City continued to pursue the relocation of the intake source to Andong Dam. However, the Democratic Party and environmental groups have called for a re-examination of the plan, citing the enormous construction costs and concerns over heavy metal contamination in Andong Dam.
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