A recreational kayaking event in Seongnam has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and local politicians after an attempt to raise water levels left fish stranded in dried-up sections of the Tancheon Stream. (Image courtesy of the Seongnam Environmental Movement Union)
SEONGNAM, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – A recreational kayaking event in Seongnam, a city southeast of Seoul, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and local politicians after an attempt to raise water levels left fish stranded in dried-up sections of the Tancheon Stream.
The incident occurred during the 2024 Seongnam Festival (October 5-13), where city officials organized a kayaking experience on October 12 and 13 — the first such water sports event held in the Tancheon Stream. “We wanted to offer citizens a unique experience they don’t usually get in an urban setting,” a city official explained.
However, the city’s efforts to increase the water depth for kayaking led to unexpected consequences. From 6 a.m. to around 12:40 p.m., officials operated a dam to block downstream water flow, aiming to raise the water level from its usual 70-80 centimeters to about 150 centimeters in the upstream section where the kayaking was to take place.
The process took longer than anticipated, resulting in downstream areas being deprived of water flow for an extended period. This caused parts of the stream to dry up, leaving fish stranded. City workers had to use buckets to rescue and relocate the trapped fish.
The Seongnam Environmental Movement Union issued a statement calling for the immediate cessation of the event. “This kayaking experience has turned into an ecological disaster,” the group stated. “Fish and fry were trapped in puddles because they couldn’t escape in time. This event merely instrumentalizes the creatures living in the Tancheon Stream for a showy display.”
Local council member Cho Jung-sik, from the opposition Democratic Party, criticized Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin on Facebook. “Mayor Shin, who organized such an event, is a bad mayor who doesn’t respect nature,” Cho wrote. “This is the first time the Tancheon Stream has exposed its riverbed. The mayor has turned the stream into a playground for a kayak show.”
In response to the backlash, a Seongnam city official stated, “The issue arose because the water level rose slower than expected. Once we became aware of the situation, we made efforts to minimize the impact on the ecosystem.” The official added that as of May 13, the downstream water level issues had been resolved, and citizens were enjoying the kayaking event.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
