Governor Won Heeryong has instructed his office to come up with the budget to expand the capacity of local sewage treatment plants. Critics say the response is too late?-there have been three years of problems. Mike Laidman reports.

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Provincial Office

Governor Won Heeryong focused on the island’s sewage treatment problems at a recent weekly meeting.

He ordered an increased budget for better sewage treatment at both the national and local levels.

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‘Local budget must be considered’

He suggested gradually transforming all of Jeju’s sewage treatment plants into underground structures like the one in (도두) Dodu with parks, open markets, solar panels, and other leisure places above them.

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‘We will consider the modernization of all sewage plants’

He also commented on how his office would manage the facilities.

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Public corporation to manage facilities is second step

The governor said that the province is planning to establish a public corporation to manage the facilities, but that this second step will happen at some point in the future.

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‘Professional advice and expertise needed’

For now, the island needs to tackle its more pressing problems by seeking advice from experts and hiring professionals in the areas of the civil engineering, the environment, mechanical engineering, and maintenance.

Recording
Won Heeryong / Governor
I believe that our sewage treatment facilities need to be modernized in phases, like the one in Dodu, for the betterment of Jeju and all who live here.
씽크)원희룡 제주특별자치도지사
민원 뿐만 아니라 제주의 장기적인 미래 모습까지 생각했을 때는 도두처럼 단계적으로 모든 시설의 현대화로 가야되겠다...

Meanwhile, problems due to the lack of proper sewage treatment have been observed over the past three years, mainly in (도두) Dodu, and the problems have been consistently anticipated by some experts and councilors.

The provincial office is now busy trying to remedy the issue.

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Provincial response ‘too late’

Most recently, sewers flooded at the Jeju Myths and History Theme Park

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Park Byeong-joon

The incumbent governor was required to attend administrative audits by the provincial council, and councilors have requested an investigation into the alleged preference the governor gave the theme park.

Indeed, as of late, the provincial office’s actions have been seen by some as regrettable.

Mike Laidman, KCTV