The Amazing Change of Nature, Waterfront Areas Before and After #2

Harmony Conceived by the Breath of Nature and Man’s Hand

Botanical Garden in Gunsu District of the Geum River

Botanical garden at Gunsu-ri, Buyeo-gun of Ghungnam. The abandoned land covered with piles of garbage before the project has been transformed into the beautiful land of life filled with blooming flowers.

ShinKwan District Riverside Park of the Geum River

The park located in Shinkwan Districtat Gongju city of Chungnam has already become the place where the locals love. It has been turned into a shelter for the residents by renovation of the waterfront areas not to immerse even in heavy rains after dredging to widen across the river and improving water flow. Along with sports facilities, trails and rest areas are created and the beautiful night lights shine f rom the dis tance of Gongsan palace.


Hampyeong Stream at Hampyeong District of the Yeongsan River

Improved appearance of Hampyeong Stream or the tributary of the Yeongsan River at Hampyeong-gun of Jeonnam. The Hampyeong Stream where contaminants were imprudently discarded and therefore accumulated was repaired and maintained with purification plants. The riverside trail is leading to Hampyeong Expo Park where the butterfly festivals are held. Hampyeong Stream Maintenance Project has completed earlier than other project sites to be in schedule with the Butterfly Festival and the participants of the festival enjoyed transformed ecology around the stream.

The Amazing Change of Nature, Waterfront Areas Before and After #1

Harmony Conceived by the Breath of Nature and Man’s Hand

Neungam Wetland of the Han River

The Neungam Wetland area in Chungju City, Chungbuk used to experience influx of contaminants such as pesticides from the crowded vinyl-houses before the project. After the project, all of the vinyl-houses were removed and growing prunus vedoensis that were planted neatly by the citizens on last Arbor Day have filled up the ground. The wooden deck was installed inner side of the wetland to provide a comfortable path that people can take a walk and a great deal of bike trails was created on the outer side of the wetland.


Gulam Strict, Gangcheon Island of the Han River And Waterfront Park

The place that used to be covered by sediments and contaminants has been transformed into an ecological park as the cozy shelter with green green forest. In this ecological park located where a scenic view of the Gangcheon Weir is granted, pine trees donated by the citizens were planted along with the bike trails.


Miho Stream Wetland Park of the Geum River

The land of Miho Stream in Yeongi-gun of Chungnam which did not have anything around before was reborn as the wetland park. The lotus-shaped artificial flora island particularly attracts people’s attention, which is constructed by the mat of vegetation planted to purify water and help maintain a stable ecosystem. A wooden deck was placed around for the people to observe the wetland plants without compromising the ecosystem.

World-Shaking Before and After the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project - Yeongsan River

Rivers helped with Weir Installation Help Us Back

The Yeongsan River used to be the ‘dead’ river. It was repellent not only being around piles of the waste that flowed and accumulated over the years from the agricultural lands nearby but also with sedimentation. But now the table is turned around with the Seungchon Weir. It is obvious to see the significant difference in the photos taken around the Seungchon Weir before and after the project. Rapidly flowing the Yeongsan River after the removal of the sediments now do not even come close to the surrounding farmlands. The weir is just sufficient to become the locals’ delight for its designs symbolized rice grains produced in the plain of Naju and superb riding on the pedestrian bridge.

The significance of the Juksan Weir lies in reanimation of the prosperity of the Yeongsan River. The flourished center of boat passage, the Yeongsan River had lost traveling boats and visitors years ago. In order to reincarnate the boat passage, a miter gate was uniquely installed not like in any other weirs. Hwangpo sailboats pass through the miter gate, continuously cruising to the center of Naju. It is expected to become the representative tourist route in Jeonnam region.

World-Shaking Before and After the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project - Nakdong River

Rivers helped with Weir Installation Help Us Back

It is the starting weir of the Nakdong River. Acting like an elder brother for the rest 7 Nakdong weirs, built in the upstream of the Nakdong River, it regulates the water flows. It showed a leak but soon neatly fixed and now it is boasting its appearance with symbolic mark of the bicycle on the pillars as the icon of Sangju city, the biker’s paradise. After the opening, it was the most obvious and active to frequently spot locals riding over the weir bridge.

Its iconic structure embodied a pavilion, a place where Korean scholars used to write and read is a distinctive feature and it almost looks like the traditional cross stripes window with lights on at night. It is the most respectable weir as it works during the day and learns at night. It seems to regulate water during the day for the residents and to provide scholars a space for reading books at night with lights on. Along with Maae statue of the Buddha discovered in process of the weir construction, it is standing as the cultural icon in the upstream of the Nakdong River.

Even though it may look a bit too simple and rustic, it has the ‘hidden card,’ the observatory. This observatory installed inside the structure representing turtles allows 360° rotational view of the Nakdong River. The Gumi Weir also holds meanings to clean up the pollution that was built up by the industrial complex and to enter the place of regenerating nature.

It is the only weir located in the region of the wound from Korea’s modern history since the area or Chilgok-gun is the place where the Nakdong Battle took place during the Korean War. The Chilgok Weir was designed after the theme of Cheolwoo who was buried in Gasan Rock for controlling the spirits of land in accordance to Docham philosophy of Shilla. Strangely, the spirit from the past seems to heal the pain of the modern time.

The Gangjeong Goryeong Weir visited by the most people after the opening ceremony is embedded with romance all over the place. Water Punggeum(organ) stairways reminding Ureuk ’s Gayageum (Korean zither with twelve strings) playing and Tanju observatory provide differentiated visual features from other weirs. The Gangjeong Goryeong Weir located in between Dalseong-gun of Daegu and Goryeong-gun of Gyeongbuk will be adjusting water flow of the Nakdong River mid-basin.

Built on the mid-besin of the Nakdong River, Dalseong Weir finalized the opening ceremonies of the 16 weirs. As shown in the aerial photos of before and after the sedimentation deposited from the upstream had been removed by dredging. Herniated disc problems of the Nakdong River had been perfectly treated. As in no other weirs, distinctively straight bike path of the weir bridge stimulates racing instincts.

Hapcheon Changnyeong Weir visualized the ibis, a symbol of Upo wetland as the pride of the Nakdong River. Purification feature of the Hapcheon Changnyeong Weir is especially important for the Nakdong River area was prone to flood damage as going down the river course. It plays a role to filter the water of the Nakdong River leading it to flow down smoothly to the Changnyeong Haman Weir.

Located at the most down-basin among the weirs in the Nakdong River, the Changnyeong Haman Weir is in charge of the Nakdong River smoothly slipping into the sea as the final barrier. It is also the solid keeper to protect Haman and Changnyeong regions against floods, which used to be inundated every year. Its height is relatively low compared to the rest of the weirs which provides a different experience in overlooking down the river as standing on the weir that its scenic view is much more sensational than looking up the sky.

World-Shaking Before and After the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project - Geum River

Rivers helped with Weir Installation Help Us Back

Construction of the Baekje Weir was started and completed with the desire of Buyeo Residents. Buyeo residents strongly supported the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project to give a life to the Geum River which flow had been blocked with the sediment accumulation and eventually the Baekje Weir was created to benefit the River and the residents. As an icon for the culture of Baekje and the pride of Buyeo residents, Baekje Weir started spurting its growth.

The Gongju Weir along with the Baekje Weir gives a significance to bring new meanings to Chungcheong area which had relatively weak regional characteristic with Baekje’s history of defeat by announcing resurrection of the Baekje culture. The Baekje Weir representing the General, Gyebaek and the Gongju Weir representing the King, Muryeong stood strongly as the two tops of Baekje’s symbol in Chungcheong-do.

While the Baekje Weir and the Gongju Weir are representation of the resurrected past, the Sejong Weir symbolizes the future. It is because it stands in the center of Sejong city, which will be structured in 2012 as the administrative center. The Sejong Weir built before the riverside apartments overlooks the cleaned crystal waters of the Geum River. Opened the first among 16 weirs, the Sejong Weir and its waterfront areas will become the ‘oxygenated space’ along with the new city for Buyeo residents.

World-Shaking Before and After the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project - Han river

Rivers helped with Weir Installation Help Us Back

The Yeoju Weir which shines more brightly at night than during the day was created with a keyword, King Sejong, who has invented the pride of Korea, Hangul. The residents of Yeoju-gun were freed from flooding troubles by removing the disorderly scattered greenhouses and constructing the weir in the deepened river after the sedimentation dredging work. Just like the way how the King Sejong has invented Hangul for the troubled people.

After opening of the Ipo Weir, it has been getting tributes from the foreigners that it is the “combination of the Korea’s own beauty and technology.” In particular, its underwater squares uniquely installed and have not been featured in any other weirs made a lot of people waiting in line to meet the summer of 2012 in Yeoju. The Ipo Weir represented Yeoju’s iconic bird, the white heron and its eggs will become the center of tourism infrastructure of Seoul and Gyeonggi metropolitan area.

Gangcheon Weir that is installed between the Chungju Dam and Paldang Dam is responsible for flood protection and procurement of agricultural water by adjusting the water level of the Han River for local residents and farmers. The sediments piled up a lot enough to block waterway were dredged and the width and depth of river were added to give the speed in river flow.

The Second Trial Also Ruled that the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project was Legitimate.

The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project was found as a lawful action in the court of appeals (the second trial). The ruling was the first time in the High Court.

On November 25, Kang Mingu, the chief prosecuting attorney of Seoul High Court, ruled the same as the first trial that 6089 plaintiffs from a civil lawsuit party, who filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs in order to cancel the whole restoration project, lost in the court.

The court announced reasons for the judgment, “The work scope of defendant did not go beyond its discretion in accordance with the business purpose, content, and all side effects. And regarding the plaintiffs’ concerns on increased risk and disasters by the project, water quality degradation, and destruction of ecosystems, it was recognized that the claim is lack of evidence.” The court also included, “It is not a reason enough to cancel out the project that the environmental impact assessment had been made only within three months and longterm comprehensive plan of water resources projects is absent,” because “Despite the fact that there would be or expected to be some damage in reality, it is difficult to see that the damage will go beyond what this project is to achieve.” The National Action of the citizens filed an administrative litigation to Seoul Administrative Court, Busan District Court, Daejeon District Court, and Jeonju District Court to stop respectively the projects of the Han River, the Nakdong River, the Geum River, and the Yeongsan River that the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project has problems, but lost in all original trials.