A chief of the world's largest environmental organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said Friday she is not fully aware of the issue of South Korea's controversial four rivers project but would like to learn more.
Julia Marton-Lefevre, director general of the IUCN, is visiting Jeju to participate in the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress which began a 10-day run Thursday on the southern resort island for the world's largest environmental conservation event, along with more than 10,000 leaders and environment experts.
In June, Marton-Lefevre met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and was reported to have said Seoul's project to refurbish the country's four major rivers is specific outcomes of the city's campaign for environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The massive project to refurbish the four rivers -- the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan -- is one of Lee's trademark projects, aimed at preventing floods and enhancing the nation's overall water management.
It has been at the center of controversy over its possible adverse effects on the environment, however, with many environmental experts and civic groups asserting that dams built for the river refurbishment project damaged the ecosystem.
"I do not have any positive or negative opinion regarding the issue since I, like many other participants in the congress, do not have much information," Marton-Lefevre said in an interview with reporters on the second day of the congress.
"I was misquoted. I spoke in English," she added, referring to June's remark.
"President (Lee) talked to me for about two minutes about four rivers and we did not cover any details," Marton-Lefevre said. "I am sorry that the global community does not know (about the project.) All issues have positive and negative sides."
"I can tell you that we know little since there are 176 motions and actions that are of global nature," the chief said, adding she is very interested to look into the project.
The chief also said she is not fully aware of the issues surrounding a contentious naval base on Jeju Island, adding she was surprised to have heard the word "Gangjeong" for the first time.
Civic groups and environment activists, along with some residents of a Jeju village called Gangjeong, have staged protests and taken legal steps to halt construction of the base.
"We were surprised that we were brought into this issue just now," Marton-Lefevre said, adding she would like to visit the site sometime in the future.
The chief said the quadrennial conference is a chance for participants to learn from South Korea's efforts for green growth and environmental conservation.
"I am very happy to be on Jeju Island since some six to 7,000 out of 10,000 participants are foreigners who did not know the beautiful island," she added.
She stressed the gathering is not about Jeju nor South Korea, however, but that the focus of the congress is on global issues.
Founded in 1948, the IUCN is the world's largest and oldest environmental organization, with about 50 offices around the world and some 1,000 staff. It has about 200 government members and some 900 non-governmental members from about 160 countries. (Yonhap)