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South Korea 's new President Lee Myung-bak has proposed a project to connect with canals South Korea's four major rivers (the Yeongsan, Geum, Nakdong and Han). The "Grand Canal" is intended to accommodate 5,000 ton cargo ships and would require dredging, deepening, widening and laying concrete along approximately two thousand kilometers of shallow river courses in South Korea, and perhaps more in North Korea.

Such massive canalization of rivers will severely damage the hydrology of whole river systems and have enormous negative impacts upon South Korea's water resources, wetland ecosystems, and riparian biodiversity. The Grand Canal system will adversely impact one of Korea's most well-known Ramsar wetland sites and three internationally important estuaries. These shallow rivers are used by a broad range of bird species, and eight of the nation's most important bird areas will be impacted and numerous species threatened.

Korea is drought prone and water scarce, yet pollution from heavy cargo ships is expected to threaten drinking water supplies for 24 million people. Despite lack of final plans and no Environmental Impact Assessment having been conducted, the President says the project will be done in five years. A recent poll showed that the Korean people want to preserve their rivers and wetlands. Join Korean environmentalists in highlighting the importance of natural ecosystems for national well-being.

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