(LEAD) Gov't to construct flood control dams in 14 regions nationwide

▲ This photo shows the discharge of water from the Gunnam flood control dam over the Imjin River near the inter-Korean border on July 23, 2024. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) flood control-dams

(LEAD) Gov't to construct flood control dams in 14 regions nationwide

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in last 6 paras)

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- The government on Tuesday announced the selection of 14 candidate sites for dams to be newly built or renovated for flood and drought control, as well as for water supply.

Environment Minister Kim Wan-sup unveiled the 14 streams nationwide where new dams will be constructed or existing ones will be redeveloped as part of the construction plan in response to global climate change.

They include Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, Yanggu in Gangwon Province and Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, each of which will host a new multipurpose dam.

Four other regions, including Hwasun in South Jeolla Province and Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province, will each host a water supply dam, while Gimcheon and Yecheon, both in North Gyeongsang Province, will each have a new flood control dam, according to the ministry.

Five other regions -- Geoje, Uiryeong, Ulju, Suncheon and Gangjin -- will have their existing dams redeveloped into flood control dams.

Each envisioned dam, once completed, will be capable of handling a single rainfall event of up to 220 millimeters, providing effective flood control, the ministry said.

The construction will also provide an additional supply of 250 million tons of water, sufficient to meet the water needs of 2.2 million people.

Starting next month, the ministry plans to hold hearings and briefings with residents of the candidate sites to obtain their consent, a step necessary for these construction plans.

After that, the ministry will need to develop a basic construction plan, conduct feasibility studies and outline implementation plans, finalizing the size, purpose and location of the dams, the ministry noted.

No new dam has been built since the last dam construction project broke ground in Yeongcheon, about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in 2010.

The government claims that building more dams is necessary due to increasing damage from heavier rainfall and more frequent dry spells caused by climate change.

"Given that the construction may take about 10 years even if it starts now, there's no room to delay dam construction any longer amid the current climate change," Environment Minister Kim said.

The construction project, however, is expected to run into numerous obstacles, including objections from environmentalists, budget constraints and compensations for affected residents.

The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, a civic group on environmental issues, immediately voiced objections, condemning the project as ineffective for flood control or water supply.

"The government plan, announced to safeguard people's lives from extreme floods and droughts caused by climate change, appears to be more about reviving the construction industry under the guise of addressing the climate crisis," the group said.

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