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Source: Ministry of Environment – Proposal for 14 New Dam Candidate Sites |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Seoul, September 30 – The Ministry of Environment has overturned the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s plan to build 14 new dams, just over a year after it was first announced. The decision follows mounting criticism that the multitrillion-won national project lacked scientific basis and was pursued without sufficient alternatives or public consensus.
Originally unveiled in July 2023, the “climate response dams” were designed to address extreme floods and droughts. At the time, the ministry projected an annual shortage of 740 million tons of industrial and residential water. The plan envisioned covering 82% of this shortfall through existing water resources, desalination, and groundwater dams, while the remaining 18% would be supplied by the 14 new dams. Collectively, the dams were expected to secure 320 million tons of water and provide 250 million tons annually, enough to serve 2.2 million people.
However, after strong local opposition at several candidate sites, the ministry re-examined the project. Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan personally visited 10 proposed locations to hear from local governments, residents, and environmental groups.
Following the review, the ministry concluded that 7 of the 14 dams lacked sufficient climate resilience function or necessity, and decided to cancel them. The list includes Suipcheon Dam (Yanggu), Danyangcheon Dam (Danyang), Okcheon Dam (Suncheon), Dongbokcheon Dam (Hwasun), Sangicheon Dam (Samcheok), Unmuncheon Dam (Cheongdo), and Yongducheon Dam (Yecheon).
Minister Kim noted the limited effectiveness of the plan:
“Labeling these as climate-response dams was misleading. For perspective, Soyang Dam alone holds 2.9 billion tons, while the combined storage of all 14 new dams would amount to only 320 million tons.”
The ministry also admitted to procedural flaws. While dam projects are typically led by the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), there was no consultation with other major dam operators, including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power or the Korea Rural Community Corporation. Critics argue that rather than exploring linkages with nearby hydropower or agricultural reservoirs, authorities rushed into proposing new construction.
The 14-dam project was projected to cost KRW 4.2 trillion (USD 3.1 billion). Yet, feasibility studies were reportedly insufficient. Son Ok-joo, head of the ministry’s Water Policy Office, acknowledged:
“It is true that the decision-making process lacked sufficient investigation and review. We will re-examine the process through procedures including an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection.”
The ministry stated that the remaining seven dam projects will undergo further review, including basic planning and public consultation, before final decisions are made. Environmental groups, however, argue that the entire 14-dam initiative should be scrapped, calling the climate justification invalid.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
