Chul Moon Kim, Director General of Project Support Bureau
It has been known for you to be very busy visiting project sites across the nation. Do you feel worthwhile?
Now, Korea has obtained advanced water management system that is internationally proud. It has a built in system that allows the automatic control in a single spot, and is better than the Japanese system. There were difficulties during its course, but the government had faith in this project that it is what we need for our future. As a person who participated in policy-making of the project I have poured passion and affection to be judged solely with results by the future generations. Widened rivers with dredging work and reinforcement of dykes resulted in almost no damage from flood last summer.
What was the biggest challenge in overall project for on-site control and management?
Somehow the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project had become a pawn stuck in between the political debates. Even if we were doing the right thing, we had to constantly give excuses to answer questions here and there. The simultaneous construction across the country added a burden to manage multiple sites under control.
Recently there are concerns about the ‘water seepage’ phenomenon in the Sangju Weir.
Recently raised leaking phenomenon in some fixed weirs such as Sangju Weir and Gumi Weir is a minor issue that could happen in any other constructions prior to completion. The weirs are structurally safe and repair work will be done before the completion of the project.
What is the method behind the efficient management for project promotion?
The integrated management system was built to effectively manage and control project sites anywhere and anytime via online by installation of CCTV and hydrographs in 170 different sites. During the rainy season, flood stage of river and stream near the dams was obtained in real time and the sites were managed with no trouble based on this system.
Where would you want to recommend people to visit?
In the Han River, Ipo Weir and the Gancheon Island would be the perfect place to bring kids for a picnic and in the Geum River, I would like to recommend Hapgangjeong, Miho Stream, and Ecological Wetland for the best preservation of nature. In the Nakdong River, Maae Statue of Buddha Theme Park became one of the popular attractions and waterfront parks were beautifully created near the Seungchon Weir of the Yeongsan River.
To me, the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project isIt is ‘a battle with myself.’ In the course of the project, I attended court as a congressional witness and suffered heavily in conflicts with the opposite groups. In retrospect, these hardships were the disciplines to guide me to be stronger. I got to have times to look back in time and try harder.
