Democratic Party Launches Special Committee to Resolve Water Shortage in Yeongdong, Gangwon... Song Kiheon Appointed Chair

Special Committee Launched in Response to Government and Ruling Party's Commitment to Resolving Gangneung Drought
From Alleviating Immediate Inconveniences to Expanding Desalination and Water Resource Infrastructure
Aiming for Inclusion in Next Year's Budget; Addressing Drinking Water Issues at Border Military Bases Also a Key Task

The Democratic Party of Korea has launched a full-scale response to address the water shortage affecting the entire Yeongdong region of Gangwon Province, including Gangneung, which has suffered severe damage from the worst drought in history.

Song Kiheon, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Office of Song Kiheon.

On September 26, the Democratic Party of Korea decided at its Supreme Council meeting to establish a "Special Committee for Resolving the Drought and Water Shortage Crisis in the Yeongdong Region of Gangwon Province" and appointed three-term lawmaker Song Kiheon (Wonju-eul, Gangwon Province) as the committee chair.

The launch of this special committee follows President Lee Jaemyung and key party and government leaders expressing strong determination to resolve the water shortage crisis in Gangneung. The committee plans to go beyond short-term measures and focus on fundamentally resolving the chronic water shortage that recurs annually in the Yeongdong region of Gangwon Province, as well as establishing an integrated water management system to address the climate crisis.

The committee's goal is to ensure that related projects are included in next year's government budget proposal. It plans to quickly form its membership, centering on lawmakers from relevant parliamentary standing committees and local experts. In the short term, the committee will discuss measures to alleviate residents' inconvenience, while in the medium to long term, it will pursue lasting solutions such as securing diverse water sources, expanding water resource infrastructure, and introducing seawater desalination facilities. Expanding infrastructure to resolve drinking water issues at military bases in border areas will also be a key focus.

Special Committee Chair Song Kiheon stated, "The government and the National Assembly will work together to develop effective and lasting solutions, and we will do our utmost as an implementation body to ensure these measures are reflected in the budget." Previously, Chairman Song visited Gangneung last month with Party Leader Jeong Cheongrae to listen to residents' concerns, and earlier this month, he led an emergency policy forum at the National Assembly to spearhead countermeasures.