Gwangju City Opens Special Reporting Period for Illegal River and Valley Encroachments

Gwangju City is launching a special reporting period, running until June 30, to address illegal structures and activities within its rivers and valleys. This initiative seeks to restore the public nature of these spaces and mitigate safety risks, particularly those associated with heavy rainfall during the summer.

The city emphasizes that illegal installations in rivers and valleys not only privatize public areas, restricting citizen access, but also obstruct water flow. This obstruction can increase the risk of flooding and flash floods during intense downpours. To combat this, the city is encouraging public participation through reporting channels like the 120 BITGOL Call Center and the Safety Newspaper app.

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Rivers and valleys are public spaces that all citizens use together.

Residents are urged to report any unauthorized structures such as decks, tents, or obstructions that impede passage or water flow. Gwangju City has already demonstrated its commitment to this issue, with a dedicated task force identifying 538 instances of illegal occupation during an investigation in March and April. For reported cases, the city plans to assess the situation on-site, encouraging voluntary removal for minor violations while pursuing strict enforcement for deliberate infringements.

"Rivers and valleys are public spaces that all citizens use together," stated Deputy Mayor Ko Gwang-wan. He urged citizens to report any illegal structures they encounter to ensure a safe and pleasant environment for everyone. The city aims to foster a collaborative management system involving both citizens and administration to maintain the integrity and accessibility of these natural resources.

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We ask for reports so that measures can be taken against illegal structures to create a safe and pleasant river and valley environment.