Relocation of Daejeon Detention Center... Government Considers Special Provisions in Preliminary Feasibility Guidelines

Central Government Positively Reviews Proposals from President-Governor Meeting

Daejeon City Hall exterior view (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

With the Daejeon Detention Center having been located in the heart of the city for over 40 years, it has long been cited as a factor hindering urban development and worsening residential environments. Now, the government has announced that it will consider applying special provisions to the preliminary feasibility study guidelines in light of the project's unique characteristics, raising expectations for the project's advancement.

On August 1, Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo directly requested the President to: ▲ reflect dredging plans when establishing the national river master plan, ▲ improve the standards and procedures for executing the national river maintenance budget, and ▲ revise the public enterprise preliminary feasibility study criteria for relocating the Daejeon Detention Center.

In response, the Ministry of Environment replied that it would actively consider incorporating sediment management and dredging plans to strengthen flood safety for the three major national rivers passing through the city-Gapcheon, Yudeungcheon, and Daejeoncheon.

There have been ongoing concerns that these rivers require urgent maintenance, as the risk of flooding continues to increase due to nearby apartment development and the intensifying climate crisis.

The Ministry of Environment also stated that, after the flood season, it will conduct a detailed survey of areas with chronic sediment accumulation and implement systematic maintenance dredging, reflecting both necessity and priority.

A Daejeon city official emphasized, "The fact that issues directly raised at the meeting presided over by the President are being positively reviewed at the central government level is a green light for resolving long-standing local projects. As these long-delayed projects are now moving into practical implementation, we will accelerate efforts to deliver tangible results that citizens can experience as soon as possible."