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The Committee for Justice and Peace of Kwangju archdiocese criticized the main opposition party’s leader for favoring a controversial river project.
On Oct. 7, the committee issued a letter asking Democratic Party president Sohn Hak-kyu to renounce his support for the Yeongsangang River.
“He talked too freely, not knowing the reality of the Yeongsangang project and offending the Catholic Church’s efforts. We demand Sohn to withdraw his remarks and apologize to the people in Kwangju city and Jeollanam-do province,” the committee said.
“The Yeongsangang Project is different from the government’s other three river projects as it aims to improve water quality. Our party supports the practical use of the river and agrees on the project,” said Sohn, during his visit to Kwangju.
Kwangju archdiocese also urged the government to put off dam construction and large-scale dredging, which they say are not related to water quality improvement. Instead they asked government to prioritize maintenance of river branches and sewage disposal facilities.
“We demanded through open letters for the provincial government to revise the project, but the governor refused. Sohn’s remarks really added oil to the fire,” said Augustine Kim Yang-rae, vice-president of the archdiocesan committee.
The archdiocese asked Sohn to apologize before Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Kwangju presides over a Mass on Oct. 15 to protest the river project.