The South Chungcheong and South Gyeongsang Provinces have each formed special committees to reexamine the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. The general contour of public opinion was confirmed with the election of governors Ahn Hee-jung and Kim Doo-kwan, who pledged to suspend construction for the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. Now, the local governments in question say they will come up with concrete alternatives after conducting empirical research and analysis. As the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is directly connected to the lives of local residents, the central government should negotiate with the local governments.

The plans of the two local governments are reasonable. South Chungcheong Province¡¯s Special Committee for the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project is comprised of a group of experts in a multitude of fields and public representatives from the seven cities and counties along the Geum River. The idea behind the committee is to invite the heads of various groups regardless of their position on the project to discuss an alternative. A forum of about 30 experts in water resources, ecology and regional development has also been launched. Of these experts, 15 had been previously been selected by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) for a similar purpose. It is praiseworthy that the forum has not been stacked with figures from one side.

The committee will examine each construction sites one-by-one and determine aspects of the project that are needed for the region and aspects that are not needed. The committee plans to keep all possibilities open, including amending, changing or suspending the project, without prejudice.

The current project plan for the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project contains a number of flaws, as the necessary verification measures were shortened and expedited by the Lee Myung-bak administration. The fact that the two local governments will take responsibility and come up with alternatives is naturally welcome. As experts on the local area bring pro and anti-project opinion together in the discussion, it is very possible that a strong alternative will be crafted.

At this point, the Lee administration should suspend the project for the time being and cooperate with the local governments. As it is now the rainy season, the administration should suspend the project for safety reasons. MLTM officials have put down these decisions by of the two provinces, but this is a narrow-minded and foolish attitude. This opportunity instead provides a way out for the Lee administration from the trouble it has caused by bulldozing the project through. If the central government lacks the attitude to talks with the local governments, the national confrontation and friction over the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project will become worse.

As it stands, the memorial service marking the 49th day since the death of the Venerable Moonsu, who ended his own life through self-immolation in protest of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, will be held nationwide today.

The local governments also must not hesitate to begin their research. An alternative will be convincing only if it is presented before the project progresses a great deal further.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]