Mayor Joo Kwangdeok of Namyangju: "The Central Government Must Respond to Overlapping Water Source Regulations"

Namyangju City Discusses Water Source Regulation Improvement with SPC
"Paldang's Overlapping Regulations... After 50 Years of Sacrifice, It's Time for Compensation"

On January 21, Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced that it held a meeting with the Special Policy Council for Water Quality Conservation in Special Measures Areas (hereinafter referred to as the SPC) and received a report on the SPC's work plan for 2026. During the meeting, they discussed the direction and key tasks for policies regarding the Paldang water source area.

Joo Kwangdeok, mayor of Namyangju City, is holding a meeting with the Special Policy Council for Water Quality Conservation in Special Measures Areas (hereinafter referred to as the SPC) on the 21st. Provided by Namyangju City

At the meeting, the results of the "Paldang Water Source Regulation Improvement Signature Campaign," which was jointly promoted by seven cities and counties in the Paldang water source area, were also shared. Namyangju City accounted for 58% of all signatures, recording the largest share among the participating local governments.

This signature campaign was launched to urge the rational improvement of overlapping regulations that have persisted for decades, to guarantee residents' property rights and economic activities as well as restore their living rights, and to inform the government and the public of the principle that "special sacrifices deserve special compensation."

In particular, at the 31st Citizens' Day ceremony held on September 30, the city and city council jointly promoted the signature campaign. The city council also expressed its agreement on the need to improve regulations on the Paldang water source and actively supported the initiative. As a result, the campaign served as an opportunity to further expand public consensus among citizens.

An SPC official stated, "Namyangju City played a central role in this signature campaign, which highlighted the long-standing inconvenience and sacrifices of residents in the Paldang water source area. Thanks to the joint efforts of Namyangju City and its citizens, we were able to deliver our demands for regulatory improvement to the central government more forcefully."

Mayor Joo Kwangdeok emphasized, "For the past 50 years, Namyangju citizens have made special sacrifices to preserve the metropolitan area's drinking water source. Now, the government must not turn a blind eye to their tears and should step forward to provide reasonable compensation and regulatory improvement."

Going forward, Namyangju City plans to continue working closely with the SPC and other local governments in the Paldang water source area to promote institutional reforms that balance the public value of protecting water quality with the legitimate living and property rights of residents.