Climate Ministry Moves to Eradicate Illegal River Occupation... 10 Billion Won Environmental Improvement Contest

The government will fully implement an environmental improvement project to prevent the recurrence of illegal river occupation.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that, in order to fundamentally resolve the recurring problems of setting up stalls and conducting commercial activities in rivers, it will invite applications for a "River Environment Improvement Project" until March 6 for sections where the removal of illegally occupied facilities has been completed.

In response to criticism that illegal occupation facilities installed in rivers and valleys cause inconvenience to the public and create safety risks by obstructing water flow during heavy rainfall in the summer, the government formed a pan-government task force in July last year and has since been carrying out intensive crackdowns and demolition.

At the central government level, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is responsible for overseeing and operating the task force, while the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment manages national and local rivers, and the Korea Forest Service manages forest valleys in national parks. Local governments are conducting actual condition surveys, encouraging voluntary removal, imposing administrative sanctions, and carrying out compulsory execution.

Daewonsa Valley Trail, Sancheong-gun

In particular, activities such as installing stalls and chairs in rivers to conduct commercial business, or engaging in illegal cultivation, have frequently recurred even after restoration to the original state. Although river management agencies have been continuously cracking down, concerns have been raised that there are limits to constant on-site management due to staff shortages and other issues.

To address this, the ministry has decided to create waterside parks, wetlands, and similar facilities in sections where illegal occupation frequently occurs, thereby creating an environment in which such illegal activities are structurally difficult to take place. The public project is open to local governments nationwide that manage national rivers, and a total budget of 10 billion won will be used to select and support 10 projects.

The call for applications and project selection will be completed by the end of next month, and the projects will be swiftly implemented from April until before the summer vacation season. The government expects this will block the recurrence of illegal occupation in key sections before the summer period, when such violations are most frequent.

In addition, the ministry plans to strengthen surveys and enforcement activities in cooperation with river management agencies, and to continue strict law enforcement, including full restoration to the original state, for any newly arising illegal occupation facilities.

Song Hoseok, Director-General for Water Resources Policy at the ministry, said, "While we are promoting environmental improvement projects to prevent illegal activities in rivers, we will also do our utmost together with local governments to ensure that people can use rivers safely and comfortably through continuous enforcement and execution."