The government has announced it will restrict construction in areas lacking water and sewer hook-ups. Critics say the move comes too late, because so much has already been built in such areas. Mike Balfour has the details.
There are known to be approximately 3,500 residential housing projects registered in Jeju. A large portion of these facilities have been built in rural areas.

Locations on the mid-mountain slopes are popular because of their stunning views. It is also easier to get building permits compared to commercial areas.


Currently, in the case of municipal areas, a building permit will only be approved if it is linked to a sewage disposal facility. But in rural areas where it is difficult to install sewage facilities, permits are easier to obtain as long as they have an underground absorbing settled sewage system.


In rural areas permits will be approved as long as water purifiers are installed.

There are approximately 4,700 accommodations built with purifiers that have received permits. If you include the number of accommodations along the coastline, the number increases further. This is raising concerns of overdevelopment and water pollution.

[INTERVIEW]
Villager
It is important to have proper sewer systems for new housing. The sewers built these days that are said to evaporate water in the air have the potential of polluting the ocean in three years.
<인터뷰 : 마을주민>
"집 지을 때 하수구를 잘 해서 지어야 하는데
어떻게 허가를 줘서 바람으로 물이 날아간다고 하는데
나중에 3년쯤 되면 바다로 흐른다."

The province has decided to prohibit construction of tourism accommodation in areas that lack water sewage facilities.

However some are saying this approach has come too late because many projects have already been built on land that does not have the essential facilities.

[camera]
Kim Yong-min, Hyeon Gwang-hoon

As the restriction is limited to tourism accommodations, some are criticizing that the regulations are too narrow. Analysts are pointing out that the issue requires a broader overall evaluation.

[INTERVIEW]
Kim Tae-seok / Provincial councilmember
Pollution caused from sewage issues is a problem for everyone living in Jeju. Properly categorizing and evaluating the issue will help us set policies to use as standards when approving permits.
<인터뷰 : 김태석/제주도의회 의원>
"하수관거 문제나 침투식, 바다 방류 문제 등으로 인한 오염은
모든 도민이 짊어져야 합니다. 이런 차원에서 생존형과 이익형, 수익형으로 분리해서//
**수퍼체인지**
접근해야 한다. 정책 결정을 할 때 허가를 인가해줄 때 이런 부분을 세밀하게 살펴봐야 한다."

[Reporter]
Mike Balfour

The province’s administrative approach focused largely on construction in rural areas has raised eyebrows. Many are speculating that this belated move by the government will cause overdevelopment and/or pollution.

Mike Balfour KCTV