Sweetfish is a species native to the freshwaters of East Asia. It is known to only live in very clean water.

(월대천) Woldaecheon River in (외도) Oedo-dong was also one of the fish’s habitats. However, sweetfish have left the area after the river became polluted by local human activity.

Local residents are now working together to bring the freshwater fish back to the river.

Todd Thacker reports.

[slug] Oedo-dong, Jeju City

This exposed river bed once flowed with fresh water.

(월대천) Woldaecheon River used to be a sweet fish habitat that ran freely to the sea.

But freshwater fish gradually disappeared as the waterway dried up.

[slug] Human activity drives sweetfish away

Some 20 years ago, this stream was full of sweetfish.

Now, without water to sustain them, the area is empty of life. This problem can be directly attributed to human activity.

In response, area residents are working together to restore the river and this natural fish habitat.

[slug] Residents release 150,000 sweetfish

They have released 150,000 sweetfish into the headwaters of (월대천) Woldaecheon River.

INTERVIEW
Im Han-seo / G5, Oedo Elementary School
I hope the sweetfish we released grow well and return to this stream.
<인터뷰 : 임한서/외도초등학교 5학년>
"(은어들이) 행복한데 잘 가서 크게 성장해서 다시 돌아오면 좋겠어요."

INTERVIEW
Hong Jae-hyeok / G5, Oedo Elementary School
I hope my neighborhood becomes clean enough for the sweetfish to stay.
<인터뷰 : 홍재혁/외도초등학교 5학년>
"은어가 깨끗한 곳에서 사니까 우리 마을도 깨끗해졌으면 좋겠어요."

[slug] Water levels began dropping 3 years ago

Levels at the waterhead began dropping sharply three years ago, ultimately exposing the river bed.

To reduce the flow of water, the community has taken steps to block the waterway.

In the spring adult sweetfish spawn in rivers and the fish hatchlings enter the sea to feed on plankton during the winter.

When the sweetfish hatchlings enter the sea, the dam on the river will be opened.

INTERVIEW
So Won-jun / Representative, Oedo Community
Our goal is to restore the water levels of the river for the fish to move in and out of the waters over spring and autumn.
<인터뷰 : 소원준/외도동 주민자치위원회 사무국장>
"수원이 확보가 돼야 은어가 사니까 수원을 확보하고 은어가 봄에 올라와서 다시 가을 되면 바다로 내려갈 수 있게 그런 여건을 조성하는 것이 우리의 최종 목표입니다."

[slug] Residents seek to reduce groundwater consumption

Area residents have asked that the province's water supply and drainage management headquarters seek ways to conserve water because overuse of groundwater leads to a reduction in river flow.

They also requested careful management of the wastewater pumping station close to Woldaecheon River.

[slug] River contaminated by wastewater discharge in 2017

In 2017, an equipment malfunction at the wastewater pumping station led to a discharge of wastewater into the river, killing all the remaining sweetfish.

[Reporter] Todd Thacker
[Camera] Park Byeong-june

This river habitat is battling multiple threats from pollution and water resource issues. This has prompted area residents to take urgent steps and encourage waterworks officials to improve management of a precious local resource.

Todd Thacker, KCTV