The South Korean government is launching a thorough reinvestigation into facilities illegally occupying rivers and valleys, promising severe penalties for local governments found guilty of negligence or intentional omission.
The South Korean government has initiated a comprehensive reinvestigation into illegal facilities occupying rivers and valleys following President Lee Jae-myung's directive. This was in response to concerns raised during a Cabinet meeting regarding previous investigations that allegedly omitted significant findings. The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced that relevant departments will collectively organize and carry out the investigations, ensuring that high-risk areas beyond existing watersheds are included. The first phase of the investigation will take place from November 1 to 31, with a subsequent review before the monsoon season in June.
In a structured response, the Ministry of Interior will oversee small rivers, while larger national and local rivers and national parks will be handled by the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment. The government is also setting up a safety inspection team that will carry out field verifications of the reinvestigation results. During this time, significant penalties are planned for serious cases where business operators conspire to conceal illegal facilities, with possible referrals for prosecution.
In light of criticism that the penalties for illegal occupation are disproportionately low compared to the profits made, the government is considering implementing substantial fines that exceed illicit gains. Minister Yoon Ho-jung emphasized the government's commitment to strictly sanction intentional concealment of illegal facilities and failure to comply with investigations, indicating a strong stance against illegal occupations in line with the administration's regulatory measures in environmental governance.
