Main opposition calls on Lee to give up waterway project

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- Opposition parties pressed President Lee Myung-bak on
Thursday to entirely give up his plan to build a network of cross-country
waterways, after media reports suggested presidential aides are secretly moving
to revive the controversial project.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is refusing to cooperate in allocating
up to 14 trillion won (US$102 billion) of taxpayer money to refurbish the basin
areas of South Korea's four major rivers, claiming the plan is the prelude to
Lee's so-called "grand canal" campaign.
"President Lee must reassure the public that he will give up his plan to build
the canal," said DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun during a party meeting Thursday.
"Reviewing the part of the budget (that we believe is) related to the canal
project has become the most important task."
The construction of a proposed network of waterways that would link South Korea's
major northern and southern rivers and branch up to major North Korean cities was
a key campaign pledge of Lee's during the election season late last year.
The project, dubbed the Pan Korea Grand Waterway, would comprise 17 routes across
the country and stretch 3,100 kilometers.
Lee earlier said he had abandoned the project after it met with widespread public
opposition.
The plan was politically divisive, with supporters saying it would help revive
the economy and critics arguing that it is not economically viable and would
wreak havoc on the environment.
Spurning the opposition's recent allegation, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said
Wednesday that modifying the four rivers "has no relation" to the waterway
project and is designed to create more jobs and revitalize the slowing economy.
Main opposition leader Chung also warned against the ruling Grand National
Party's (GNP) move to unilaterally wrap up the budget review by later Thursday.
"All sides must agree on the budget to run the economy smoothly next year," he
said. "We will not cooperate in passing a problematic spending plan. If we need
more time, we shall take it."
Rival parties earlier agreed to pass several pending bills including the 2009
budget and tax cut plans by Friday, but have been unsuccessful in narrowing
differences over how the government should handle the economy next year in the
midst of a financial crisis.
The government-proposed budget calls for an increase in fiscal spending of over
10 percent to 283 trillion won and assumes economic growth of 4 percent -- far
above prevalent estimates of about 2 percent from economic analysts.
President Lee's GNP, which controls an absolute majority of 172 seats in the
299-member unicameral house, has vowed to settle the budget alone if its rival
parties refuse to cooperate. The main opposition holds 83 seats.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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