The “Completion of the Youngju Multipurpose Dam,” Delayed for Seven Years Due to the Cultural Assets Project, Resolved through Mediation

It is expected to foster the local economy by promoting waterfront tourism business and road construction with the completion of the dam

(Aug. 29, 2023, ACRC)

The construction of Youngju multipurpose dam, which had been delayed for seven years due to the relocation and restoration of cultural assets, is nearing completion by virtue of the mediation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Kim Hong-Il). It is expected to facilitate the development project around the dam.

On August 9, the ACRC hosted an on-site mediation meeting, presided over by Chairperson Kim Hong-Il, at the Youngju Dam Office of the Korea Water Resources Corporation and conducted mediation efforts to ensure the completion of the dam by settling the project costs associated with the relocation and restoration of cultural assets.

The construction^* of the Youngju multipurpose dam began in 2009 and was finished in 2016, with the purposed of ensuring a reliable water supply and preventing flood damage. However, there has been a seven-year delay in the completion of the dam resulting from the delay in settling project costs for the relocation and restoration of cultural assets, which is an affiliated project.

* The total project cost for the Youngju multipurpose dam amounts to 1 trillion and 103 billion won (the project cost for the relocation and restoration of cultural assets is 31.2 billion won)

In February, 33,434 residents in Youngju-si filed a collective complaint with ACRC regarding the challenges in implementing Youngju-si’s eight long-cherished follow-up projects (a project cost of 380.9 billion won) related to the development of nearby areas of the dam, including waterfront tourism business and the road construction, arising from the prolonged delay in the completion of the dam.

ACRC facilitated residents and relevant agency in reaching a consensus on the final mediated recommendation through multiple on-site investigations and consultations with the relevant agencies.

According to the mediated recommendation by ACRC, Youngju-si and the Korea Water Resources Corporation have decided to settle the project costs incurred to date associated with the relocation and restoration of cultural assets and transfer the follow-up work to Youngju-si.

The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Water Resources Corporation have agreed to initiate the administrative procedure for approving the completion of the dam as soon as the project costs are settled.

Gyeongsangbuk-do and Youngju-si have stated that they will implement the necessary administrative measures and procedures to ensure the smooth execution of the relocation and restoration of cultural assets.

ACRC Chairperson Kim Hong-Il said, “It is extremely fortunate that the recent mediation has brought the dam construction near completion, which had been delayed for a considerable period, following the settlement of the project costs for the relocation and restoration of cultural assets by the relevant agencies. We anticipate that the completion of the Youngju multipurpose dam will contribute to fostering the local economy and addressing the inconveniences faced by local residents by facilitating long-cherished local projects.”