Co-chair Bang Sehwan Vows to Achieve Both Water Quality Protection and Improved Quality of Life for Residents

20th Policy Council of the Special Council Convened
Public-Private Cooperation to Promote "Water Quality Conservation and Regulatory Reform"
Discussion on Win-Win Measures for Seven Cities and Counties

The Policy Council for Water Quality Conservation in Special Countermeasure Areas held its 20th policy council meeting at the Han River Basin Environmental Office on the 24th.

At the meeting, a total of three agenda items were approved, including the election of the co-chairperson of the Special Council (resident representative), two reporting items from the Special Council, and an amendment to the Special Council’s operating regulations. In addition, the council discussed proposals submitted by cities and counties, as well as by resident representatives.

This year’s co-chairs of the Special Council Policy Council consist of six members: two ex officio members, namely the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Vice Governor for Economy of Gyeonggi Province; Bang Sehwan, Mayor of Gwangju, representing the mayors and county governors of the seven cities and counties; Park Myeongseo, Chairperson of the Icheon City Council, representing council chairs; and two joint resident representatives, Kang Cheonsim, resident representative of Gwangju, and Shin Yongbaek, resident representative of Icheon.

Bang Sehwan, Mayor of Gwangju and co-chair of the Special Council, said, "With a strong sense of responsibility, we have been making efforts to achieve both the protection of water quality in the Paldang water source and the improvement of residents’ quality of life," adding, "We will do our best to create conditions that can change in line with regulatory reform."

Meanwhile, the Special Council is operated as the nation’s first public-private cooperation body in which the central government, local governments, and residents participate, with the aim of formulating reasonable policies to improve the quality of life of residents in the seven cities and counties.