{
  "id": 3684962,
  "title": "Korea scales back Yoon-era dam plan, moves ahead with 5 projects worth $1.2 bil.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/korea-scales-back-yoon-era-dam-plan-moves-ahead-with-5-projects-worth",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T06:42:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/environment-animals/20260827/korea-scales-back-yoon-era-dam-plan-moves-ahead-with-5-projects-worth-12-bil"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea has opted to scale back its ambitious dam plan from the previous Yoon Suk Yeol era, focusing on five new or upgraded dam projects while phasing out seven others. The Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry announced this decision on Thursday, concluding a review of the 14-dam initiative. The total estimated spending has been reduced from 4.75 trillion won ($3.45 billion) to approximately 1.67 trillion won ($1.2 billion). The scrapped projects include seven dams, while two others will be replaced with alternative solutions that utilize existing water infrastructure. The five approved projects include the Jicheon Dam in Cheongyang and Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province, the Amicheon Dam in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, the Byeongyeongcheon Dam in Gangjin, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, the Hoeyagang Dam in Ulsan, and the Gohyeoncheon Dam in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. The decision comes after concerns over the necessity and effectiveness of the previous dam plan, as well as significant opposition from residents in the proposed project areas and environmental activists.",
  "summary": "Korea will proceed with five new or upgraded dam projects while replacing two others with alternatives that draw on existing water infrastructure, the climate ministry said Thursday, wrapping up a review of a 14-dam initiative launched under the previous government. The plan, announced by Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-whan, leaves seven dam projects scrapped, five approved and…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea scales back Yoon-era dam plan, focusing on five new projects",
    "Total spending reduced from $3.45 billion to $1.2 billion",
    "Approved projects include Jicheon, Amicheon, Byeongyeongcheon, Hoeyagang, and Gohyeoncheon dams"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Korea's scaled-back dam plan signifies a shift towards more targeted water infrastructure investments, yielding significant cost savings and appeasing environmental and local concerns that stalled the original initiative.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea scales back Yoon-era dam plan, moves ahead with 5 projects worth $1.2 bil.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/korea-scales-back-yoon-era-dam-plan-moves-ahead-with-5-projects-worth-3690492",
        "published": "2026-08-27T07:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}