The global Coca-Cola Foundation is collaborating with government agencies, local authorities, and civil society organizations to restore the aquatic ecosystem of Jeonju Stream in North Jeolla Province. The initiative aims to remove obsolete weirs from the river to restore its natural flow and apply the project's outcomes to river restoration efforts in other regions.
Coca-Cola Korea announced on October 20 that it signed a "Joint Implementation Agreement for the Removal of the Jeonju Stream Small Weir" on October 19 at the Sangjuk Weir site in Wanju County.
The agreement involves seven organizations, including the global Coca-Cola Foundation, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Forest and Sharing Foundation, North Jeolla Provincial Government, Wanju County, the Korea Environment Corporation, and the Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Association. Attendees at the signing ceremony included Lee Jun-yeop, CEO of Coca-Cola Korea; Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment; Jang Jae-yeon, Chair of the Forest and Sharing Foundation; Lee Won-taek, Governor of North Jeolla Province; Yoo Hee-tae, Mayor of Wanju County; and Lee Jun-seok, Director of Environmental Facilities at the Korea Environment Corporation.
The core of this project is to remove weirs that have lost their original purpose, such as securing agricultural water, to restore the river's natural flow. Weirs are structures that block or elevate water levels across rivers, and some facilities are currently unused, obstructing water flow and the movement of aquatic organisms.
The Sangjuk Weir, targeted for removal, is located in Sanggan-myeon, Wanju County, and measures 1.3 meters in height and 86 meters in width. A preliminary impact assessment conducted by the Forest and Sharing Foundation indicated that removing the weir could lower the planned flood level in that section by up to 1.18 meters.
During the project, public-private cooperation will secure the necessary funding and administrative and technical support for the removal. The global Coca-Cola Foundation will sponsor the project costs, while the Forest and Sharing Foundation will oversee everything from project planning to the demolition and post-monitoring. The government, local authorities, and the Korea Environment Corporation will provide administrative and technical support.
After the removal, continuous monitoring of water levels, water quality, and ecological changes will be conducted to assess the restoration effects. Based on these findings, a public-private cooperation model will be developed that can be applied to the removal of aging and unused weirs in other regions.
Carlos Paguaga, representative of the global Coca-Cola Foundation, stated, "I am honored to be part of the effort to restore the natural flow and ecosystem of the river. I hope this collaboration leads to tangible environmental improvements and contributes to sustainable water management and climate resilience in the region."
Jang Jae-yeon, Chair of the Forest and Sharing Foundation, remarked, "This project is significant as civil society is directly promoting river restoration with scientific evidence and resources. I particularly appreciate the collaboration among the government, local authorities, specialized institutions, local civil society, and businesses to make this happen."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.