Kwon Do-youp, Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, delivering a congratulatory address
On September 24, the opening ceremony of Sejong Weir was held in definite autumn air. The Sejong Weir is located in Yeongigun, Chungcheongnam-do. For this event of the opening of Sejong Weir, the news media from all over the country came to cover it with a great attention.
The Festival Hanmadang for Sejong Weir’s grand opening started in the afternoon and was carried on until the late evening with joyful activities. As for pre-events, activities such as flying kites, motor gliding, windsurfing, canoeing, sailing and singing contest were organized, and the main ceremony proceeded in the order of the Geum River Restoration Project Progress Report, theme video screening, and the opening announcement. Celebrations with concerts and fireworks drew direct participation of the residents and put on a blissful riverside evening.
As the leading district of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, Sejong District had its groundbreaking ceremony in May of 2009. It costed KWR 218 billion to create eco-friendly eco-streams with the total length of 17.3km including 13km of the Geum River and 4.3km of the Miho Stream. The major projects include Sejong Weir construction, stream channels maintenance, creating of the artificial wetlands as well as construction of bike paths, trails, and the small hydroelectric power plant.
Sejong weir is an underwater weir designed to be 348m long with a 125m fixed weir and a 223m movable weir and 2.8m to 4m in height. The movable weir has the rising sector gates which maintain 60 degree grade in full water level but they can be lowered weir to discharge the sedimentation and pollutant more efficiently.
Unable to install unique artworks for it is an underwater weir; other ideas were applied to the Sejong Weir. The fixed weir connected to the movable weir represents Korean rain gauge, Cheukugi and 14 consonants of Korean have been carved onto it to magnify the significance. LE D lights are installed in the weir to show fancy appearance at night.
The small hydroelectric power plant installed at North of the Sejong Weir is in operation since September 31 and is generating 12,000,000 kwh in size, which is enough to cover 11,000 population a year. In the south of the Sejong Weir, natural fishway is built to allow water flow even during drought season and fish can freely move through it.
With the 30 minute walk along the trail upstream from the Sejong Weir, there shows Hapgang Park at where the Geum River meets Miho Stream. It was named after the unique characteristic of the location as “Hap” means to meet and “Gang” means the rivers. In Hapgang Park, there is a pavilion Hapgangjeong, and from there, the Geum River and Miho stream are viewed at once. Looked over from Hapgangjeong, there are 30km bike path and a trail along the Geum River and Miho stream. People who live in Sejong-si will be able to take advantage of this park as a resting and exercising place, starting next year.
Natural wetlands of 800,000 m2 located in downstream of the Geum River is preserved as is. The artificial wetlands of 400,000m2 are created in 1.5km upstream of the Miho stream and wooden decks are installed. By walking on the deck, one can easily see the water purification plants such as willow trees, weeping willows, prunus yedoensis, reeds, and sword-flags.
In operation of the Sejong Weir, the water level will be elevated to expand the habitat of plants and animals in the wetlands.
Pre-event performance announcing the Celebration of New Wave
Sejong Weir carved on with Korean consonants
