Korea's Grand Canal is a Grand Mistake

President Lee Myung-bak is proposing a highly controversial and costly plan to construct a water course between Seoul and Busan by connecting the Han and Nakdong river systems.

It is President Lee's desire to connect these two economic centres by water in order to reduce stress on Korean roadways. Instead of pushing for the advancement of Korea's rail system - the cleanest and most cost effective method of transport - he is vying to take on a massive project that is sure to cause damage to Korea's ecology and international reputation as an environmental leader.

What President Lee, who was curiously heralded by Time magazine as an "environmental hero", isn't taking into consideration, or isn't concerned about, is the environmental implications of such an ambitious project.

Korea's Grand Canal, as it's being called, will prove disastrous to the national environment. Yet Lee is pushing ahead with the project without conducting a proper and conclusive environmental impact assessment, even though this is required by Korean law. However, it is certain that the ecological integrity of Korea's fresh water is at stake - water required for consumption by millions of Koreans. Biodiversity is also at stake, as species of fauna and flora - species supposedly protected by Korea - will be forced to adapt to a vast altering of their habitat.

And within the immediate interests of the KML's work, the Grand Canal, if completed, will cut through the Baekdu Daegan, the primary mountain system of the Korean peninsula. This mountain system is not only the final refuge for many of Korea's remaining wildlife, it is the source of all of Korea's fresh water; walking along the length of the main ridge, you would not cross a water system once, but would actually be travelling the courses of the springs and wells that drain the upper slopes and eventually feed Korea's greater rivers before rushing out to sea. The Baekdu Daegan is also a cultural symbol, the source of Korea's national prosperity, a great strand of energy, the Tiger's spine. President Lee is set to sever this spine, the ecological and cultural life line of the Korean people.

The Korean Mountaineering League is immensely opposed to President Lee's Grand Canal, and, according to recent polls so is nearly 60% of the Korean population; however, Lee seems determined to move forward. We call upon all of our members, other organizations, mountaineers, environmentalists, concerned citizens of both Korea and the Earth to help put this project to an end before it starts.

KML president Shawn James Morrissey recently wrote an article for the Korea Times about the canal. Read the article here.

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