Coca-Cola Korea said on the 20th that The Coca-Cola Foundation signed a joint implementation agreement with six organizations on the 19th at the Sangjugeum weir site on the Jeonjucheon stream in Wanju County, Jeonbuk State, to remove the weir and restore the aquatic ecosystem. The partners are the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Jeonbuk State, Wanju County, the Korea Foundation for Forests and Sharing, the Korea Environment Corporation and the Jeonbuk branch of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements. With funding from the foundation, the government, local authorities, civic groups and technical agencies aim to build a public-private model for restoring the natural flow of the stream.
The Coca-Cola Foundation is taking on a project to dismantle aging stream structures on the Jeonjucheon and restore its aquatic ecosystem. The Sangjugeum weir slated for removal is a cross-stream structure originally built to hold back water or raise water levels. It has since lost that function and is now seen as an obstacle to the stream's natural flow and to ecological connectivity. Removing it is expected to restore the stream's interrupted flow and reconnect the aquatic ecosystem.
The Korea Foundation for Forests and Sharing will oversee the project from planning through demolition work and follow-up monitoring, drawing on funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Jeonbuk State, Wanju County and the Korea Environment Corporation will provide administrative and technical support, while the Jeonbuk branch of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements will take part as a cooperating organization. Coca-Cola Korea, under its partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation, plans to publicize the project's results and promote the importance of sustainable water management.
"We find it meaningful to be part of efforts to restore the natural flow of the stream and its ecosystem," said Carlos Pagoaga, president of The Coca-Cola Foundation. "We hope this partnership leads to tangible environmental improvements and contributes to sustainable water management and stronger climate resilience in the region."