By Oh Young-jin
Assistant Managing Editor
Chung Jong-hwan's optimism is infectious. The minister of land, transport and maritime affairs often throws off witty remarks, or bursts into a measured laughter when he parries a thrust of criticism and while mediating a dispute. His critics find themselves disarmed and the warring parties in the dispute he umpires laugh together with him.
Now, the 62-year-old minister, often regarded as one of President Lee Myung-bak's favorites in his Cabinet, is facing perhaps the toughest sell of his 32-year bureaucratic career ― winning the hearts and minds of the skeptical public over the troubled four-river restoration project, the biggest so far among civil engineering projects that have been launched under the Lee administration.
By all appearances, the goals of the 22-trillion-won project are legitimate. If the recently-unveiled master plan is implemented by 2012 as scheduled, the four major rivers ― the Han, Nakdong, Yeongsang and Geum ― would be straighter, wider and cleaner in water quality.
Korea is expected to fall short of water resources by 800 million cubic meters in 2011 and by 1 billion cubic meters in 2016, but, when the restoration is completed, an additional 1.3 billion cubic meters would be secured.
With a dose of hyperbole, this project means giving a glass of water to a marathoner turning the midpoint mark in his 42.195km race. In other words, considering Korea's water shortages, any plan to secure more resources should be welcomed with open arms. But they are not, and for good reasons.
``Every year, we spend 4 trillion won in flood prevention, damage repairs and other related kinds of work,'' Chung told a group of business editors from news media outlets Monday evening. ``All we have to do is to earmark that budget and use it in advance.''
It was typical of Chung, who is good at simplifying complicated things and explaining them in layman's terms. This skill comes from his experience of being deeply involved in two mega projects ― the KTX high-speed railway and Incheon International Airport.
He was straightforward as usual but lost his confidence a bit when asked of the prospects of cost overruns. ``We can't be sure,'' he answered. For both the Incheon airport construction and the high-speed train project, the real costs ended up being far higher than the original estimate.
Cost overruns are often taken as a matter of fact in big civil engineering projects because they are bound to face unexpected hurdles. But in the river restoration plan, cost estimates have doubled in the space of months, with some arguing that the final tab may go over 30 trillion won.
This series of revisions in cost estimates is creating a ripple effect, causing the public to question the tight schedule the administration is keeping. It took six months to complete the master plan before it was unveiled early this month. The ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for October next year, meaning all necessary work ranging from environmental assessment to the survey of historic relics should be done within the one-year framework.
So it was natural that some editors asked the minister why the administration was in such a hurry. With a straight face, the minister divulged. ``Everything should be done before the term of this administration is up.''
His response divulges the limits imposed on any popularly elected government, which feels obligated to get what it starts finished within the five-year term. I think that few editors left the dinner without realizing how hard Minister Chung tried to convince the public of the necessity of the four-river project. But whether they were convinced was another matter.
It was not his fault that the public still suspects the project could be a prelude to the Grand Canal project. Chung vehemently denied this, adding that he had had personal doubts about the plan that was part of Lee's campaign pledge.
At the start of his presidency, Lee tried to push hard for the Canal project that would link the Han River with the Nakdong River by carving a waterway out of hundreds of miles of rocks and earth. Lee relented when faced with enormous public opposition. Then, some critics argued that Lee, a former CEO of Hyundai Construction and Engineering, was trying to retreat the national agenda back to the 1970s when the Army general-turned dictator Park Chung-hee tried to legitimize his grab of power with a development agenda.
Toward the end of the dinner, one editor blurted out what others had intended to ask all along. ``Why can't this administration communicate better with the people?'' he uttered.
Chung said with his trademark smile, ``We will do better.'' I am not sure how many at the dinner were convinced. Once again, it was not Chung's fault.
Before the minister's arrival, I was told that the Monday dinner was organized after the President upbraided Chung for not being forthcoming enough to promote the river restoration project. When asked about it, Chung said with a smile, ``President Lee is not a complimentary type.''
Chung is a foot soldier in the Lee administration marching faithfully on his boss' order. To make his job easier, it is time that the President should do more to communicate with the public by using his radio address or making a special television appearance to talk about the river restoration plan.