Professor Young-Gi Park of the Department of Civil Engineering, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), has been appointed as the private-sector Chairperson of the Saemangeum Committee.

The Saemangeum Committee is a committee under the Prime Minister that deliberates on important matters related to the Saemangeum project. It is composed of two chairpersons (the Prime Minister and a private-sector chairperson) and up to 30 government and private members.

Appointed on January 23, Chairperson Young-Gi Park is a water resources expert who has served as Executive Vice President of the Korean Water Resources Association, a member of the Integrated Water Management Vision Forum, and a member of the Geum River Basin Management Committee.

He has also served as a member of the Saemangeum Development Agency Technical Advisory Committee and as director of the Jeonbuk Green Environment Support Center, and is regarded as having a strong understanding of Saemangeum and local issues.

Chairperson Park said he intends to focus on facilitating Saemangeum development and on water quality issues.

Park said, "With short-term water quality measures concluding next year, an interim water quality evaluation will be conducted this year," and added, "It is also important to ensure Saemangeum is not used for electoral purposes ahead of this year's presidential and local elections."

The term of Chairperson Park, who was appointed this time, is two years (until January 22, 2024), and he will operate the Saemangeum Committee together with the Prime Minister.