Hwaseong City Successfully Concludes 'Korea Renewal Campaign,' a Nationwide Environmental Cleanup Initiative

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Hwaseong Special City announced on the 22nd that it successfully held the ‘Korea Renewal Campaign,’ a nationwide environmental cleanup initiative, at Gungpyeong Port Square and the adjacent coastal area.

The event was attended by Mayor Jung Myung-geun of Hwaseong City, Bae Jeong-soo, Chairman of the Hwaseong City Council, Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, Kim Sang-kyung, Director of the Incheon Airport Regional Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Hong Dong-gon, Director of the Han River Basin Environmental Office of the Ministry of Environment, Lee Woo-je, Director of the Road Management Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Oh Haeng-rok, Marine Environmental Policy Official of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Kim Seong-joong, Vice Minister of Administration of Gyeonggi Province, representatives from all 17 provinces and cities, and approximately 750 volunteers nationwide.

The event proceeded in the following order: opening remarks by Minister Yoon Ho-jung, welcoming remarks by Mayor Jung Myung-geun, a ‘Korea Renewal’ commitment performance, a water purification clay ball throwing performance, and coastal cleanup activities near Gungpyeong Port.

In his welcoming remarks, Mayor Jung Myung-geun stated, “I once again express gratitude for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's approval in August of the establishment of four general districts, which had been a 15-year aspiration for Hwaseong City,” and added, “Hwaseong City will use this as an opportunity to promote administration that communicates more closely with citizens.”

He continued, “This campaign is a nationwide and national movement where the central government, local governments, and local communities unite as one to open a new era for Korea, and it is an important opportunity to demonstrate Korea's mature civic consciousness and spirit of community to the world ahead of the APEC Summit.”

Finally, he said, “Hwaseong City has consistently maintained ‘creating a clean city with citizens’ as its core value and has carried out cleanup activities on roads, rivers, and coastal areas. Going forward, we will make the coastal areas clearer, the seas greener, and the tidal flats more vibrant with life, and will take the lead in practicing the spirit of Korea's renewal.”

During the ‘Korea Renewal’ commitment performance, attendees passed a large banner inscribed with the slogan ‘New Era, Clean Land, Happy People! Korea Renewal!’ over their heads and chanted together, reaffirming their commitment to creating a clean Korea.

Subsequently, at Gungpyeong Port's Sunset Road, distinguished guests and volunteers performed a ‘water purification clay ball throwing performance.’ The clay balls thrown on this day contain approximately 80 types of beneficial microorganisms (EM), including yeast and lactic acid bacteria, which decompose nutrients on the riverbed, eliminate odors, and purify water quality.

The city plans to continue environmental cleanup activities following this campaign and work with various stakeholders to create a clean and pleasant city to live in.