The city of Daejeon has come under fire from environmental organizations for its decision to spend 5.5 billion won on river dredging as part of its ongoing River Maintenance Project. This controversial initiative, which involves dredging three major rivers in the area, has faced scrutiny due to accusations that it violates regulations by carrying out extensive dredging without proper environmental assessments. The city's mayor, Lee Jang-woo, has been pushing to address flood prevention, but social pressure and recent oversight by the Board of Audit and Inspection have raised questions about the effectiveness and necessity of these actions.

Recent audits indicated that the Daejeon city government conducted extensive dredging beyond what was warranted under flood prevention regulations, leading to environmental assessments being bypassed—a violation of established laws and guidelines. The planned dredging in 2024 is expected to follow similar patterns without addressing identified issues, leading critics to question whether this is an adequate response to real ecological concerns. Environmental activists highlight that the project is likely to cause further harm rather than benefiting flood prevention efforts, as the ecological balance is prioritized mainly in cost-cutting decisions.

Groups like the Daejeon Environmental Movement Union and the Daejeon Chungcheongnam-do Green Union argue that local taxpayers' money is being wasted on projects that yield little real benefit for flood prevention while severely damaging river ecosystems. They express concerns that the dredging will not result in sustainable improvements and is merely a financial burden on citizens. As the city continues its dredging plans, the debate over ecological preservation versus operational costs intensifies, revealing deep divisions over the responsibilities of local government in managing natural resources effectively and responsibly.