Saemangeum: more on that dam city

Written by bbj Friday, 19 February 2010 12:17

(right-click and View Image to enlarge)

Saemangeum is all over the Jeonbuk news. It has been for almost two decades. The seawall is 500 metres longer than the Afsluitdijk in the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands, previously the longest seawall/dyke in the world.(Wiki) It has been fiercely resisted as an environmental holocaust for migratory shore birds, and as an economic money-pit. Despite the bickering and typical infighting, intrigue, and ineptitude of the last few governments, the project has somehow managed to emulate Aesop's tortoise and keep plodding along. Jeonbuk residents are of very differing opinions as to whether the seawall and/or the new city of Ariul are a good idea or not. If all goes well, Jeonbuk--and Jeonju--will experience a rising tide, economically. If not, the province will be stuck in the mud, nay, driven to the brink of extinction. The Jeonju Hub encourages readers to share their opinion in an article for our Back Page.
^{[Thanks: Jeonbuk Ilbo, Bobin Jung, Tori Elliot]}