January 26, 2012

Supple Government and the Rigid Environmental Movements

Yoon Jung Cha, Environment Administrator of the Office of National River Restoration

You must have gone through a lot of distress being in part of this project as an ecology expert?

Envi ronmental organi zat ions and civi l society had appealed to public sentiment in an unprofessional stance by indiscriminate attacks toward us and the project with respect to the environment and ecology. I was hurt a lot at that time.

I thought it had to be somebody from the field of ecology and I would be the perfect fit, but didn’t know it would cause this much of trouble.


Why were the environmental groups extremely opposed to the project?

It may be because of thei r ident ity pursuing innate characteristics of the nature and opposing to any kind of artificial act. Through 1980s and 1990s, the civil society has attained much success in changing the awareness of the people to be deterrent toward the indiscriminate development and introducing institutional systems and procedures. The government has accepted social trend and became flexible but yet civil and environmental movements are rigid with criticism. Moving away from developmentoriented government, it promotes businesses to preserve the environment even in the tasks from the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs. The government is changed and now considering the environmental aspects, but the environmental movement is not giving any credits for it.

While the system has been changed, the movement stays still.


How is the ecosystem conservation being coordinated with the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project?

From a straight ecological perspective, it may be desirable not to install lateral structures or the weirs. However, it is has to be done it becomes challenge that calls for the ecological technology. What it means is that we must overcome the situation that human society stands against the nature. It may inevitably give ecological impact but it is bound to be a challenge. So this project can be ecologically considered as ‘concessions and challenges.’


Are there any alternatives to eliminate conflicts between environmental preservation and development?

It is important to find a resolution model adequate for conflict elimination by focusing on what we really want (in terms of the environment) and to confirm where we stand and redefine the relationship.

Now is the time that environment and ecology NGOs must start with a determination to preserve the rivers by water system freshly from the scratch. It is expected to find a new cooperative model if it is being searched with the picture of the earliest rivers and nature.


Especially where among those waterfront areas would you live to recommend to the people?

Out of all the places, there isn’t a single place not worth visiting. They are all very equally beautiful. But if I have to choose a place, I would recommend Yeoju Weir with exotic charm and genuine appearance of the river. Among the three weirs of the Han River, it stands in the deepest of the nature.

It is petit but charming. Not only that when looked down from the weir, the river is just magnificent. It was my first time seeing such a big river for me to even go across, so serene and peaceful with no buildings around.


To me, the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is
For me, the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is ‘ fuss and troubles.’ I could have been a quiet and polite ecologist as before but it turned out that I turned myself into an issue getting involved in the project. Of course, I have grown to be a fighter for the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. Even though I become a little more sensitive after the project, but it is clear that it was the significant challenge in my life.