Joint Crackdown Begins at Hoedong Water Source... Busan Waterworks Headquarters Launches Intensive Inspection of Water Source Protection Area

The Busan Metropolitan Government will conduct intensive inspections of illegal structures and unauthorized activities within the Busan Hoedong Watershed Protection Area, which supplies drinking water to 400,000 residents in the eastern region of the city.

On May 29, the Busan Waterworks Headquarters announced that it will carry out focused inspections of illegal structures within the Busan Hoedong Watershed Protection Area until June 30.

The Hoedong Watershed is a water source that supplies tap water to eastern Busan without using water from the Nakdong River mainstream. Although the headquarters has been pursuing water quality improvement and maintenance of the protection area, concerns have recently been raised over water pollution due to an increase in illegal structures and unauthorized business operations in the protection area.

Busan Hoedong Reservoir Protected Area.

The headquarters has conducted special inspections annually, but this year it has decided to further intensify inspections in order to increase effectiveness through continuous checks and follow-up management.

As the Ministry of Environment is also strengthening special crackdowns and inspections on illegal structures in rivers and water source protection areas, the headquarters will likewise carry out rigorous inspections and administrative measures against illegal structures and unauthorized activities within the protection area.

To enhance the effectiveness of inspections, a joint task force will be formed with the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Geumjeong-gu, Gijang-gun, and Yangsan-si. In addition, the team will cooperate with relevant permitting departments such as those overseeing the Building Act, Food Sanitation Act, and the Act on Restriction of Special Zones for Development to conduct comprehensive crackdowns.

The joint task force will include the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Surveillance Team as well as teams responsible for environmental hygiene, construction, and urban planning from local governments. Through on-site inspections, the task force will identify both existing violations and new illegal structures, thereby strengthening the management system for the protection area.

This round of inspections will focus on unauthorized buildings, illegal changes of use, unauthorized land alterations, and unauthorized business operations. If violations are detected, administrative actions such as criminal complaints and immediate restoration orders will be imposed.

Compliance with administrative actions for existing violations will also be reviewed. Facilities that fail to comply will be subject to additional sanctions and will be listed on management records for continuous monitoring until the violations are resolved.

In the case of unauthorized buildings, criminal complaints and corrective orders will be issued. If corrective orders are not fulfilled, compulsory fines may be imposed and administrative enforcement actions may be taken.

Kim Byunggi, Head of the Waterworks Headquarters, emphasized, "The Hoedong Watershed Protection Area is a rare clean natural environment within the city and is an important source of drinking water for Busan as well as an alternative to the Nakdong River. We will do our utmost to root out illegal activities and block pollution at its source to ensure the protection of clean water sources."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.