President Lee: "835 Cases of Illegal River and Valley Occupation? That Makes No Sense"...Orders Local Governments to Reinvestigate

President Lee Chairs Cabinet Meeting
Orders Inspections and Strict Disciplinary Action if Omissions Are Found After Additional Probe

President Lee Jaemyung, speaking at a Cabinet meeting about the status of clearing illegal occupation facilities in river and valley areas, said, "I cannot believe that the number of cases investigated nationwide is 835," and ordered local governments to conduct an additional round of inspections. He also called for nationwide inspections, saying, "If any omissions are identified, strictly discipline the responsible public officials and local governments, and if the scale is large, have them punished for dereliction of duty."

Yonhap News Agency

After receiving a report from Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hochung, President Lee said, "When I conducted an investigation in Gyeonggi Province, I believe there were far more cases than this. There is no way there are only 835 cases." He then raised the possibility of underreporting, saying, "Public officials often pretend not to see things even when they pass by. There are far too many cases where violations are taking place, but they are not recorded as violations and are simply ignored."

President Lee went on to say, "Give local governments one more chance to conduct an additional investigation, and after that, carry out nationwide inspections so that, in cases of omission, the responsible public officials and local governments are strictly disciplined." He further instructed, "If the scale is large or similar circumstances apply, have them punished for dereliction of duty. The Ministry of Justice should also work closely with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on this."

In his report, Minister Yoon said, "To return safe and clean rivers to the public, we have expanded efforts nationwide to clear illegal occupation facilities," and added, "While inducing illegal actors to voluntarily remove the facilities, we have made it a principle to take strict measures in accordance with relevant laws in cases of non-compliance. Starting in July 2025, we formed a government-level task force to carry out a comprehensive investigation and cleanup."

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's investigation, 835 cases of illegal occupation were identified in the nationwide survey. By type, platforms and sunshades accounted for the largest share with 218 cases, followed by temporary structures and illegal cultivation. Of these, 753 cases (90%) have been restored to their original state, and for the remaining facilities, which require structural safety reviews and other checks, the ministry reported that self-demolition plans have been drawn up and are being implemented. The ministry added that it has also worked on establishing management standards to prevent recurrence, providing budget support for installing convenience facilities for residents, and offering incentives such as commendations and special grants to 15 local governments that performed well in cleanup efforts.

However, regarding the explanation of "90% restored to original condition," President Lee said, "Did you only investigate the places that could be demolished? It seems you skipped the difficult ones," and added, "It would be better to clarify the principles."

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that in 2026 it will move up the enforcement period and begin intensive efforts as early as March. From March to May, it will focus on cracking down on illegal cultivation, and from June it will carry out intensive crackdowns centered on illegal commercial activities such as platforms and sunshades. Areas with a high risk of recurrence will be designated as priority management zones, and enforcement personnel will be increased. At the same time, the ministry said it will push to expand special provisions for the application of laws so that administrative enforcement can be carried out in cases of repeated or habitual violations, or where violations impede safety management.

Minister Yoon also mentioned "storm drain maintenance" as part of preparations for summer disasters, saying, "In 2025, we carried out maintenance in 3.5 times more locations than the previous year through intensive management, and this year we will also begin early measures from April to prepare in advance."