Chungcheongnam-do

▲ Dangjin Hapdeokje Reservoir

In line with the project to restore the Hapdeokje Reservoir located in Chungnam Dangjin-si, which has been under way for the last ten years, Dangjin-si is promoting the registration of Hapdeokje as a World Heritage Irrigation Facility.

The World Heritage Irrigation Facility is a system that was introduced in 2012 by the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID) to protect ancient irrigation facilities with significant historic, technological and social value. So far, the Suwon Chukmanje and Gimje Beokgolje Irrigation Facilities have been registered in Korea.

Dangjin-si aims to start promoting the registration of Hapdeokje as a World Heritage Irrigation Facility from this month in a bid to increase its historic and cultural value. The Dangjin Culture & Tourism Division and policy development personnel are working together to arrange the necessary documents - including historic records on, and video recordings and photographic images of, Hapdeokje - for the application for registration. On February 13, a conference was held on the value of Hapdeokje, and at the end of this month experts affiliated with the Korean National Committee on Irrigation & Drainage will offer consultation.

Choi Ji-yeon, a local policy development personnel & researcher, stated, "We are preparing the necessary materials, including documents on the civil engineering and architecture of Hapdeokje, in order to demonstrate its value as effectively as possible. In the future, we will hold professional conferences aimed at getting the Hapdeokje registered as a World Heritage Irrigation Facility." The registration will be announced at the end of September this year.

Meanwhile, some KRW 20.28 billion (including KRW 2.5 billion of government funding and KRW 17.528 of city investment) will be invested in the Hapdeokje Restoration Project (2007-2019), including the purchase of land and buildings, and the development and maintenance of the agricultural theme park.

Notably, KRW 2.29 billion has been earmarked for maintenance of the irrigation facility and development the agricultural theme park this year.

Jung Sang-young, a member of the city council, commented: "The progress of the Hapdeokje Restoration Project will accelerate markedly from this year. Once Hapdeok Station has been built, it will be much easier to visit Hapdeokje, and we hope to shed new light on this facility. Furthermore, the city must promote the restoration project quickly in order to help alleviate the economic situation in the southern region. We will strive to ensure that Hapdeokje is restored as quickly as possible."