Eleven journalists who visited the Ipo Weir that day were from 11 media of 10 countries, which register included an editor of the British journal, Tribune, the president of Taki Magazine of Taiwan, the Editor-in-Chief of Japanese Sankei, and a senior journalist of Al Jazeera in Qatar. They arrived in the small hydroelectric power plant of the Ipo Weir at around 4:30om and heard a briefing regarding main operations of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project and the Ipo Weir by the officials from the Office of National River Restoration.
They overlooked the Han River as walking down the Ipo Weir pedestrian bridge with Yoon Jung Cha, Environment Administrator from the Office of National River Restoration and also visited the waterfront park with a bike path. In a bad weather with occasional rain, they showed great interest taking to each other about the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project and Ipo Weir displaying such reactions as “impressive,” and “excellent.”
German reporter, Josh Logan said, “It really is a cool project. The weir is very beautiful and impressive. Above all, I had a strong impression on the large water holding capacity and the quality of water.” Libya reporter, Hamdeu Ahriswi added, “With a giant structure like this, I feel like being in a city of the future.
I was surprised by the size and the scale. Flooding occurs frequently in Libya as well. I would like to take this case and report back to my country for future bench marketing since it seems to be a good role model.”
The editorial board of the Argentine magazine, Keulrarin expressed, “I am very impressed by the weir size and the design. It is fun that it symbolizes eggs of the white heron.” He also asked the officials, “It is hard to believe that the facility was built in two years. How was it possible?” Makeusedon, an editor of British journal, Tribune stated after looking at Jangseung, Korean traditional totem located in the nearby waterfront park, “It is impressive that Korea’s traditional culture is fused with advanced facilities such as the Ipo Weir.”
Meanwhile, the foreign journalists stayed in Korea until December 5 carried out various schedules such as visiting the Nuclear Security Summit Planning team, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and the roads of Hongik University.
< Foreign journalists walking on the Ipo Weir pedestrian bridge on which the night lights were turned >
< Foreign journalists listening to the explanation of Ipo Weir, Yoon Jung Cha, Environment Administrator, Office of National River Restoration The administrator (right on the picture) was accompanied by the reporters. >
