The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project of South Korea: An Assessment of Its Process, Program, and Political Dimensions

This article analyzes the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, which was the most important component of South Korea's national Green Growth Policy. It is difficult to provide a definitive evaluation of the project because the expected outcomes will emerge only in the long term. In spite of this difficulty, this research seeks to provide an evaluation based on early outcomes of the project. This evaluation reveals that the project has not achieved its intended purpose yet, but it has some achievements in preventing flooding, minimizing water scarcity, improving water quality, and revitalizing local economies. In exploring the causes of current outcomes, this study highlights the factors that affect policy outcomes, which include process, program, and political dimensions. Each dimension has some factors that negatively affect the project. If the government wants to achieve the original purpose of the project, relevant reforms are due.