(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Dec. 29) - A four rivers plan

A maintenance project affecting four major rivers starts today, beginning with
seven preliminary construction efforts in areas including the Nakdong
River/Andong and Yeongsan River/Naju. The purpose of the first seven efforts is
not only to refurbish rivers and streams but also to provide a model for the
comprehensive project plan, set to be released in May of next year.
Another hidden intention is to move the river work ahead in order to wipe out
criticism that it is related to the grand canal project.
We believe it is good to start the river maintenance as soon as possible. There
is no reason to postpone the project because it is meant to overcome the current
financial crisis and restore the sluggish local economy. When the goal is to
stimulate the local economy and create jobs with state funds, the project???s
effects will only be far-reaching if work begins as soon as reasonably possible.
However, the project shouldn???t be carried out hastily. Creating jobs must not
be the primary and only goal of a large-scale state project. Even though we are
in an urgent situation, the people must be persuaded of the necessity of spending
14 trillion won ($10.56 billion) in taxpayer money.
Therefore, the first projects must be limited to basic river maintenance, which
will be the same regardless of the final plan. The government must concentrate
its energy and resources on creating a comprehensive and detailed blueprint to
develop the rivers.
In a briefing at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Saturday,
President Lee Myung-bak said that the government must not approach river
maintenance as a civil engineering project. He ordered that all ministries must
work together to draw a future-oriented blueprint to meet the goal of
environmentally friendly green development.
The president is right. The question is how to make it come true. The four rivers
project is foremost a civil engineering project aimed at preventing flood damage
and drought. If other factors, such as the environment, culture, science and
technology and tourism, are to be taken into consideration, a civil engineering
approach is not enough.
Experts from different areas must work together and make a plan, taking into
account the direction of the country???s long-term development.
We hope that the government will form a task force to supervise the development
of the four major rivers and present a plan that the people can agree with.
(END)