To supply water to the Honam Semiconductor Industrial Complex, authorities have decided to construct a new dam below the existing Dongbok Dam instead of raising its height. This decision aims to ensure stability, leading to the eventual dismantling of the current dam.
On September 28, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment reported that raising the height of Dongbok Dam from 44 meters to 59 meters would result in increased water pressure that the structure could not withstand.
As a result, plans were revised to build a new structure 200 meters below the current dam, capable of holding a greater volume of water.
The new dam is expected to exceed the current capacity of 99.5 million tons, reaching a height of 59 meters and a storage capacity of over 200 million tons.
Once the new dam is constructed, the existing Dongbok Dam will be gradually dismantled, and temporary facilities will be created upstream to ensure a continuous water supply.
Materials such as stone from the dismantling process will be recycled for the new dam's construction.
The Ministry plans to modify the project and begin construction in the second half of next year, aiming for completion by 2030, coinciding with the establishment of the Honam Semiconductor Industrial Complex at the Gwangju Military Airport.
The government plans to supply a total of 650,000 tons of water to the semiconductor cluster by 2030, including 300,000 tons from Dongbok Dam, 150,000 tons from Juam and Jangheung Dams, and 100,000 tons from Boseonggang and Naju Dams.
There are also plans to convert the current Dongbok Dam, which serves as a water source for Gwangju, into a multipurpose dam managed by the state.
As the project progresses, concerns regarding potential flooding in upstream areas and the displacement of residents are expected to arise. If the dam's height is raised by 15 meters, it is estimated that 8 to 10 villages and 266 households in the Hwaseong and Damyang areas will be submerged.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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