Mayor-elect Park Gwanyul of Gwangju: "Clean Water in Gwangju Is a Future Growth Asset, Not a Regulatory Burden"

Mayor-elect Park Gwanyul Holds Water Resource Policy Meeting with Gyeonggi Province
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Park Gwanyul, the elected mayor of Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province, who is set to take office for the 9th popularly elected term, has initiated full-scale policy actions to maximize the value of Gwangju's water resources and secure future growth engines.

Park Gwanyul, the mayor-elect of Gwangju City, is discussing current water resource issues and water industry development plans for Gwangju City with officials from the Gyeonggi Province Water Resources Headquarters at the transition committee office on the 15th. Provided by Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province.

On the 15th, at the transition committee office for the 9th term, Park held a policy meeting with officials from Gyeonggi Province, including Kim Seongwon, Head of the Water Quality Policy Division at the Gyeonggi Province Water Resources Headquarters. The meeting was convened to explore rational approaches to managing the Han River Watershed Fund and to discuss cooperation on major regional water resource issues in connection with the development of the Yongin National Industrial Complex for semiconductors.

This meeting drew significant attention as it aimed to seek sustainable development strategies for Gwangju City, which has long endured overlapping regulations in the name of protecting the water source for 26 million residents of the Seoul metropolitan area, and to lay the foundation for mutually beneficial water resource policies.

During the meeting, Park expressed strong concerns about the recent moves to reduce the Han River Watershed Fund.

Park emphasized, "It is absolutely unacceptable to reduce the fund, given the burden and reality faced by local residents who have endured sacrifices for a long time to protect the water source."

He went on to say, "We must move beyond simple compensation for regulations. The system should be improved so that water source management areas can build their own growth foundations, through fundamental reforms of the water use charge system and a restructuring of how the Han River Watershed Fund is utilized."

Additionally, Park proposed ways to foster eco-friendly industries and secure regional growth engines by utilizing the Han River Watershed Fund, stressing, "It is urgent to establish a true model of coexistence where both regulated and beneficiary regions can prosper and develop together."

Park also clarified the city’s position on the government's key project of integrated water supply for the Yongin National Semiconductor Industrial Complex.

He stated, "While I agree with the purpose of supplying stable water to strengthen the competitiveness of national high-tech industries, Gwangju City must also participate as a key player in shared development. The city must not remain merely a 'pass-through area' for water transit."

As a concrete alternative, Park proposed to Gyeonggi Province the establishment of an "Eco-Friendly Water Industry Cooperation Complex" in Gwangju City. The plan is to centralize industries and research infrastructure related to water treatment, water reuse, and water quality management, positioning them as new growth drivers for the region.

Park declared, "The clean water of Gwangju should not be subject to further restrictive regulations, but rather regarded as a core asset to secure our future. Through the rational operation of the Han River Watershed Fund and the promotion of the water industry, we will focus all our efforts to make Gwangju a leading hub city for Korea’s water industry."

In response, Kim Seongwon, Head of the Water Quality Policy Division at the Gyeonggi Province Water Resources Headquarters, said, "I deeply empathize with the regulatory conditions faced by Gwangju City and the difficulties experienced by local residents. We will spare no effort at the provincial level to ensure that today’s proposals for improving the Han River Watershed Fund system and establishing a water industry cooperation complex are actively reviewed and reflected in Gyeonggi Province’s policies."

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