Illegal structures on streams and valleys face strict action, government says

The government announced Wednesday that it has established principles and detailed standards for removing illegal structures from streams and valleys, and has notified local governments accordingly.

The standards were developed through consultations among related ministries — the Ministry of Interior and Safety for small streams and minor waterways, the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy for national and local rivers and parks, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for irrigation ditches, and the Korea Forest Service for forest valleys — along with expert review.

Under the framework, maintaining the function of streams and valleys and ensuring public safety take top priority. Structures that obstruct water flow or flood control will be subject to mandatory restoration, and a total of 83,575 illegal riverside structures recorded as of June 5 will be cleared in full.

Facilities closely tied to residents' daily lives will be assessed for their public value and necessity, and those eligible for occupancy or use permits under applicable laws will be legalized after a temporary grace period.

Sports facilities and rest areas within river zones will be granted a grace period or occupancy permits through December. For essential communal facilities that cannot be permitted, local governments will devise plans to provide replacement structures.

For private property, temporary structures such as farm shelters within small stream zones will be granted a grace period through December, and farming activities will be allowed to continue until harvest, after which legalization procedures will apply — provided the structures and activities do not impair the function or safety of the waterway.

To ensure the standards are properly applied on the ground, the government plans to hold briefing sessions for local government officials Thursday and Friday and distribute a question-and-answer guide.

Alongside this, the government plans to expand safety and convenience facilities along streams and valleys, and establish a community-based management system — drawing on stream wardens and guides — to keep waterways clean and safe after the cleanup.

"The government has set these cleanup standards to be strict toward commercial activities that profit from illegal occupation, while giving full consideration to residents' daily lives and local realities," said Yun Ho-jung, minister of the Ministry of Interior and Safety. "We will also thoroughly prepare follow-up support measures so that this cleanup does not end with simple demolition but leads to the restoration of public access and the revitalization of local economies."