LEE Jun-Won, the mayor of Gongju City
Inheritance to the next generation, The least improvement cannot be denied.
High Court weighed on the fulfillment of the Project, with saying the stopping actually can be the environment disaster. Tell us about your opinion for that.
Concerning the Project, some people misunderstood that we cooperate to central government, but the fact is that Gongju City is supported from Seoul. Reviving the Geum River Project was long-cherished desire to Gongju citizens. Because of aggregate gathering in the Geum River, some sector lost as much as 4 meter in depth so that people were anxious for environmental disruption. For safety of bridge piers, in order not to be swept away, Gongju City had tried knock Ministry of Land, Maritime and Transportation many times to obtain support for building weirs, but came to naught or ran on empty on us. After that much thirsty, thanks to the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, we had a chance to have movable weirs and opportunity of improving riverside environment. Why should we oppose to it? Moreover, if the Project is stopped, the unfinished structures will be degenerated as horrid thing.
Any other expectation effect except for environmental things?
Environmentally positive side tends to be defined in narrow meaning. More important thing is the ‘expectation effect’. The historic characteristic which Gongju City has is that it had been capital of Baekjae Dynasty. Until comparatively recent Japanese colonial period, sea route was functioning properly. Alongside the waterway, economy was abustle. However, reduced water had brought perished water transportation, lifeline ran dry. Imagine that waterway would be revived. Getting board on a ferryboat to taste local dish like broiled eels, taking sightseeing in botany garden, visiting Geumbyeok Gazebo, field-studying in Seokjang-ri museum, enjoying cultural experience in pansori exhibition center and jogging along the river esplanade, regardless that you are local resident or visitor, you can enjoy a meaningful and exciting day. Indeed, it means renaissance of ancient Baekjae.
What do you think about the assertion that the Four Major Rivers must be intact for next generation?
‘Some people insist that nature has not to be touched in the name of development because it is also for our next generation. Well, let me cite an example. Here is old house inherited from ancestors over 100 years more. Now the owner wants to bequeath it to his son again. Then, what if the house to be handed over is in urgent need of repair? Because of being a legacy, no repair would make sense? I don’t think so. If it had been possible to repair 100 years ago, our grandfather must had repaired for his descendents for sure. Provided that the nature must be as it comes, previously structures like the Daecheong dam, the Geum River Estuary dam and even rainwater pipes. Imagine that you get rid of rainwater pipes; you will lose rainwater which is to flow into the rivers.
Additionally, I cannot agree on the insistence that artificially improved nature loses its true value, it is not that true. For example, repairing cultural assets of Shilla Dynasty in Joseon Era (millennium later than Shilla Dynasty) should be treated as useless at all? Should we remove all the things remodeled in the past? History is what we are making even now, I think. If our descendants ask that what did we do in 2010, what will be our answer for that? We are devoting ourselves to this project of restoring the Geum River.
How do you think about the logic of nature preservation for cultural assets?
There’s opposition because of the fact that sand beaches are disappearing. Some says that Gomnaru (Gom river port) must be protected; however, it had lost the vicinity to the river already. What does river port with no water mean? Isn’t it better that reflecting full moon on the river in front of the historic site of Gongsan Fortress than dry sand on river bed? I want people think about it for a while.
What is the ground for convincing of river restoration?
In Gongju City, the Jemin Stream flows. Thanks to purify the sewage and let it flow into dried tributary, now there are clean water flows all the time. Making Flow water on dried stream is more beneficial to environment. No water, no stream. It cannot be regarded as natural thing. At the time that the Jemin Stream was to be planned to get water flows again, there had been many oppositions. At that time, rumor which the river improvement failed to kill all the fishes so much that my parents refrained from going out. Now, of course, the river is packed with fishes and wild species. River has to be a place fishes live in. If river dried up without water, it is of no use.
What is your opinion that sandy beaches are under damage due to the Project?
Present sandy beach is merely place that originally water should be filled in. Moreover, previous sandy beach is now covered with overgrown scrubs and weeds. Provided that weirs are constructed to hold water somehow, previous sandy beaches are to be restored naturally. Citizens of Gongju may all know. They regard these facts as granted, so they can not feel the necessity of rebuttal.
And what would you say about an argument that the Geunman Weir first and other ones later?
It is totally illogical. That insistence says that the construction over 70% of completion rate must go on but others under 70% must be stopped. The criterion of the 70% is unacceptable; moreover, what on earth the ground of the number. Now, stopping the construction can be disaster itself to nature. Just think how it would be hideous if the structures were stopped with having rusty iron bars neglected. It makes no sense.
Was there any struggle between Gongju City and Chungnam Province?
From the viewpoint as an administrator’s stance, it is tantamount to having no authority on national projects for provincial governor and mayor. Moreover, about ‘the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project’, administratively meddling in is of no meaning. It is a thing which would be discussed in central governmental level. Some rumors like ‘Conflict between province governor and mayor’ or ‘Struggle between central gov’t and local municipality’ are all missing the point from a fact.
