As a further step over the controversy about the GI (Gyeongin) Canal project, the waterway construction has finally been implemented. Unfortunately, however, the quarrels between the central government and the environmentalists haven’t come to an end yet. As a native Incheoner and local supporter for the project, I was able to take some time to find some unknown essential facts about the waterway as follows;
To understand the relationship between the GI Waterway and the Gulpocheon (Watercourse), we need to know about the Gulpocheon and its history, as well. The Gulpocheon is a watercourse or river which is running across the vast western Seoul plains, including Bupyeong-gu and Gyeyang-gu of Incheon City, Bucheon City, Gangseo-gu of Seoul, and Gimpo City, etc., to Han River. From the administrative eye, it’s a second grade regional river or watercourse which basin size and the length reaches to 134㎢ and 21㎞, respectively. There are more than 1.5 million inhabitants living around the area at this point of time.
To understand the relationship between the GI Waterway and the Gulpocheon (Watercourse), we need to know about the Gulpocheon and its history, as well. The Gulpocheon is a watercourse or river which is running across the vast western Seoul plains, including Bupyeong-gu and Gyeyang-gu of Incheon City, Bucheon City, Gangseo-gu of Seoul, and Gimpo City, etc., to Han River. From the administrative eye, it’s a second grade regional river or watercourse which basin size and the length reaches to 134㎢ and 21㎞, respectively. There are more than 1.5 million inhabitants living around the area at this point of time.
The history of the watercourse actually dates back to late 13th century, during Goryeo Dynasty, when the militarists Choi, Choongheon’s son tried for the first time to construct a kind of substitute artificial waterway primarily to transport grains paid as taxes from southwestern parts of the Korean Peninsula more safely, other than through the ‘Sondolmok’, a narrow and dangerous strait between Ganghwa-do and Gimpo, exposed to frequent shipwrecks. It’s late Choseon Dynasty, however, when the watercourse appeared to shape like its present status. The name ‘Gulpocheon’ itself in Chinese character reflects the facts, too. In short, the Gulpocheon is an artificial waterway which can be characterized as a canal from the historical point of view.
A Flood Control Channel Construction was begun to Prevent Frequent Floods
Geographically, the Gulpocheon basin has some problems in treating rainwater because of its pretty gentle slope and the narrow width. And the middle and the lower reaches of the stream basins are pretty low-lying areas with 5.5m above sea level, and therefore rely mostly on the compulsory draining when the Han River water level is rising during the rainy seasons. In fact, it has the structural problem, exposed to frequent flood damages.
In July of 1987, the basins experienced a severe damage, including heavy casualties by a big flood. The Construction and Transportation Department established a basic plan for a comprehensive Gulpocheon water control project in this area in 1991, and the Gulpocheon Flood Control Channel was introduced in 1992 as a part of the plan.
Though the plan was introduced only to prevent floods at the beginning stage, other ideas like utilizing it as a purpose of vessel transportation was later emerged as well, and finally the so-called ‘Gyeong-In Canal Project’ has been formed. As the canal project was delayed, a temporary flood control channel project was implemented in the meantime, and the temporary channel construction was completed in June 2003 with the 20m width and the 14.2km length size after 2 years’ construction period to avoid roughly 2 year-frequency floods (precipitation 114mm/day, flood waters 270m3/second) . It turned out, however, that the temporary channel was not enough to prevent the bigger sized floods than the average 2-year frequency floods. In September 2003, the government made its final decision to construct the permanent flood control channel in the first place and reconsider the necessity of the canal project.
Accordingly, the so-called Gulpocheon Flood Control Channel 2nd State Project that can handle the maximum 100-year-frequency floods was implemented. The core of the project was to expand the width to 80m from 20m, and construct a road on the southern bank of the channel to resolve the traffic congestion problem around the area..
Construction of the Environment-friendly Flood Control Channel and the Organization of a Council for the Regional Development
Accordingly, the so-called Gulpocheon Flood Control Channel 2nd State Project that can handle the maximum 100-year-frequency floods was implemented. The core of the project was to expand the width to 80m from 20m, and construct a road on the southern bank of the channel to resolve the traffic congestion problem around the area..
Construction of the Environment-friendly Flood Control Channel and the Organization of a Council for the Regional Development
On August 26, 2004, a council for the regional development was finally formed as local residents, local government officials and related NGO members were participating in the meeting, primarily to discuss the way to construct a environment-friendly flood control channel and to resolve any problems that can be occurred during the process.
In March 2007, meanwhile, the DHV-Saman Consortium which has performed an economical efficiency of the Gyeong-In Canal reported a new result of B/C 1.76, demonstrating an economical side of the project. And the prime minister hosted ‘National Policy Coordination Meeting confirmed to begin the canal project shortly after KDI reported another report of B/C = 1.07, also indicating an economical side of the project. Finally, the construction of the canal started on March 25, 2009.
