Only at Lunchtime: Government Targets Irregular Operations of Illegal Valley Facilities

Irregular Business Operations and Access Obstruction Targeted on Weekends and Lunchtime

Special Crackdown Throughout August, Strict Action Against Violations

The government will launch a focused crackdown on irregular illegal activities related to unauthorized facilities along rivers and valleys. The crackdown will target illegal business operations that exploit periods of weak enforcement, such as weekends and lunchtime, as well as acts that obstruct access.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on July 31, the government has designated the entire month of August as a "special crackdown period on illegal activities in rivers and valleys" and will take strong action.

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, inspects occupancy facilities around Insucheon in Uidong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Ministry of the Interior and Safety

This measure comes in response to the continued occurrence of unauthorized business operations and access obstructions that take advantage of weekends and lunchtime, when enforcement tends to be lax, particularly in some rivers and valleys. Authorities have also identified cases where illegally removed platforms and parasols have been reinstalled for business purposes, or where temporary buildings slated for demolition are being used for business during lunchtime hours.

Local governments will form special joint inspection teams with relevant departments to intensively crack down during vulnerable timeframes, while the Ministry will deploy region-specific teams led by director-level officials for joint inspections. In particular, efforts to prevent illegal activities will include increasing the number of enforcement personnel and installing closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) to establish a continuous surveillance system. In areas where illegal activities occur frequently, informational signs and banners will be installed to help visitors easily recognize such violations.

Facilities found to be illegal will be subject to prompt restoration orders and administrative enforcement procedures. The government also plans to consider imposing penalties for unauthorized use, as well as administrative measures such as business suspension under food sanitation laws and other related regulations.

Kim Yongkyun, Director of the Natural Disaster Division, stated, "We ask the public to actively report any illegal activities through the Safety Report Portal, and encourage everyone to take an interest in and participate in the river and valley management system, which will be piloted from mid-August."

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