Four Major Rivers Project


The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is the multi-purpose green growth project on the Han River, Nakdong River, Geum River and Yeongsan River in South Korea. The project was spearheaded by former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and was declared complete on October 21, 2011. It was first announced as part of the "Green New Deal" policy launched in January 2009, and was later included in the government's five-year national plan in July 2009. The government estimated its full investment and funding totaled 22.2 trillion won.
The overall project was broken into three project sets: revitalizing the four rivers, projects on their 14 tributaries and refurbishment for other smaller-sized streams. The project had five key objectives as well: securing abundant water resources to combat water scarcity; implementing comprehensive flood control measures; improving water quality and restoring river ecosystems, creating multipurpose spaces for local residents; and regional development centered on the rivers.
More than of streams in Korea will be restored as part of the project, with a follow-up operation planned to restore more than of local streams. More than 35 riparian wetlands will also be reconstructed.
The project was declared complete by President Lee on October 21, 2011. The project was a major recurring story in the media and with the public. It often drew ire and protests over the toll that construction projects could take on the environment, as well as being seen as an extension of Lee's persona as former CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd, nicknamed "The Bulldozer," with his push for swift approval of the project in the National Assembly.

Background

The Four Rivers Restoration Project of Korea was designed to be a packaged project that aims to resolve water-related problems such as floods and droughts and revitalize Korean public spaces near the water. Its projects were carried out simultaneously with heavy investment from multiple government ministries over a 2-year period.
The Korean government estimated about 800 million m3 of water was needed to prevent water scarcity in 2011, and expected the need to grow to one billion m3 in 2016. It was also disclosed that while government recovery expenses due to flooding topped 4.2 trillion won over a decade, average annual investment in flood prevention was only 1.1 trillion won. The government also stated its objective to improve the rivers' water quality, by managing pollutants such as the increase of Biochemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus counts that can result in the waterways' eutrophication.
The government also outlined that existing spaces and programs along the rivers for watersports and cultural activities could not keep up with rising demand, a product of Koreans' rising income levels.
The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is to contribute to recovering the real economy from the recession through job creation and local economic revitalization.

Policy direction

The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project has the following policy directions

Proactive response against climate change

  • Secure water resources in various ways to deal with droughts
  • Convert from investment centered on disaster recovery into investment focused on prevention

    Diversification of ways to secure water resources

  • Dredging sediments, elevation of banks around agricultural reservoirs
  • Expansion and connection of existing water resources facilities
  • Continuous development of new water resources

    Paradigm shift in river management policies

  • River management policies such as dredging sediment will expand the flood spilling capacity
  • Initial investment for prevention measures to minimize flood damages will be augmented.

    Utilization of river areas as multipurpose spaces for the co-existence of the people and environment

  • Gradual adjustment of riverside farmlands
  • Creation of new areas for leisurely activities utilizing rivers
  • Improvement of the access to waterfronts
  • Enhance the value of the riverside as scenic areas
  • Pursue regional development centered on rivers that elevates regional culture, ecological landscape, and quality of life.

    Main aspects

The Four Major Rivers Project implemented restoration initiatives that were focused on the installation of wastewater treatment and monitoring facilities as well as the construction of movable barriers built across a river to control the flow of the water. Direct interventions to restore rivers also included the construction of multi-purpose dams and heightening of banks for 96 existing agricultural reservoirs. With the goal of maximizing the tourism benefits of the restoration project, the river banks and adjacent areas were also enhanced with bike lanes, green transportation network, and leisure facilities.

Implementation of five core challenges to achieve the goal of renewing the territory

  • Korea is trying to secure adequate water supply to respond to future water scarcity and severe drought due to climate change. To this end, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs will build reservoirs, weirs, and small dams, and expand the storage capacity of agricultural reservoirs.
  • Preemptive measures are necessary against repetitive floods due to climate change, as well as 200-year floods. Therefore, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime is starting to dredge sediment, strengthen old levees, and build dams.
  • By 2012, the water quality of the mainstream will be improved to an average of level two by expanding sewage treatment facilities and establishing green algae reduction facilities. Moreover, the ministry is trying to restore ecological rivers, create wetlands, and readjust farmlands to rehabilitate the ecosystem.
  • Rivers will turn into multipurpose areas for lifestyle, leisure, tourism, cultural activities, and green growth. To this end, bicycle lanes will be developed, hands-on tour programs will be promoted, and walkways and sports facilities will be expanded.
  • The project will also contribute to regional development through various plans that utilize the infrastructure planned in the project and the scenery. The examples are 'Four major rivers that flow with culture' of Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and 'Creating a vivid land of beautiful scenery' of Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

    Project time and cost

  • Restoration of the four mainstreams such as dredging sediments and building reservoirs will be completed by 2011. Projects for the branch streams as well as building dams and agricultural reservoirs will be completed by 2012.
  • Total cost is estimated at 16.9 trillion KRW.

    Twelve cities and provinces submitted 836 recommendations worth 98.3 trillion KRW

  • River-related 213 cases worth 6.9 trillion KRW that were coherent with the master plan were reflected. Examples are dredging sediments, fortifying levees, and restoring ecological rivers.

    Expected benefits

An opportunity for Korea to position itself as a powerhouse in water resources in the international community

Fundamental resolution of floods and water scarcity

1.17 billion m3 of water secured will strengthen our capacity to respond to future water shortage and droughts. Increased water storage thanks to dredging sediment and building reservoirs will equip us against droughts. And Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs can be able to secure river maintenance water and strengthen flood control capacity even during droughts by building small sized multipurpose dams and expanding existing agricultural reservoirs.
Flood control capacity increased by 920 million m3 will enable us to fight climate change and keep our rivers safe even upon 200-year floods. Flood damage and recovery expenses will decrease by dredging sediment, and the down-streams will be protected by retention and riverside reservoirs. And the reinforcement of old levees will raise the safety in flood control.

Contribution to sound restoration of the ecosystem

  • Secure swimmable water quality by 2012, earlier than the originally scheduled 2015.
  • Improvement of the environment through restoration of ecological rivers and development of waterside belts
  • Readjustment of farmlands in riversides will reduce non-point pollution sources and improve the ecological environment.

    Increased quality of cultural and leisurely activities, and lives

Local residents will enjoy culture, relaxation, and sports in redeveloped waterfronts. Also, the promotion of water sports and the construction of bicycle lanes will increase the opportunity for leisurely activities.

Local economies revitalized through the Green New Deal

The real economy will be recovered by stimulating domestic demand and creating new jobs. And as a part of the Green New Deal, the rivers restoration project will be utilized as a new growth engine. The benefits reaped from the project on the four major rivers areas which account for 70 percent of our territory will contribute to regional development. Also, regional growth will be accelerated through the rivers-oriented development. Overall, it is expected that the project will create 340,000 jobs and generate an estimated 40 trillion won of positive economic effects.

Promotion of green growth projects

  • Clean-IT sensors to manage the river environment and disasters will be applied to this project
  1. The development of remote sensors will enable real-time monitoring of water pollution, water level, vulnerable areas upon disasters, and facilities such as bridges and dams.
  • Establishment of a digital tour system for the four major rivers
  1. Digital tours on the culture and historic sites of the four major rivers will be promoted. To this end, the government will support technological development, commercialization, and international standardization of wireless communication, and positioning system.
  • Development of unmanned underwater robots for environmental management of the four major rivers
  1. Scientific management of resources and environment of the underwater which is difficult to access will become possible by using robots.
  • Installment of photovoltaic and small hydropower power plants
  1. Photovoltaic power generation facilities will be built in riversides that are not submerged.
  2. The government will construct small hydropower plants when expanding existing reservoirs and agricultural reservoirs.