물관리위원회 분쟁조정을 통한 낙동강유역 물분쟁 해결 방안 연구 ― 낙동강 통합물관리방안 변경(안) 관련 정책 논의와 제도를 중심으로 ―

Since the 1991 phenol spill incident, the Nakdong River has continued to suffer from chemical discharges and widespread algal blooms, becoming synonymous with water pollution in the public perception. Although the government has continuously implemented policies and provided financial support to supply clean water to residents in the river basin, it has fallen short of alleviating public concerns regarding the water quality of the main stream of the Nakdong River. The top-down, state-centered water management policies have struggled to adequately respond to the growing environmental needs of civil society, which vary by region. As a result, conflict and mistrust among stakeholders involved in water management within the basin persist. Based on three decades of discussions to improve water management policy, the Moon Jae-in administration established the Water Management Committee in 2019 under the Framework Act on Water Management. This was an effort to gradually address the fragmented and hierarchical structure of existing water policies through the National Water Management Committee and the four major river basin committees. Under this new framework, the Ministry of Environment proposed the “Nakdong River Integrated Water Management Plan,” which aimed to diversify water intake sources within the basin. The 1st Nakdong River Basin Water Management Committee deliberated and approved this plan in 2021. However, following the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the election of the 8th local government leaders in 2022, opposition to the Nakdong River Integrated Water Management Plan arose—most notably from the Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City. Based on its own study advocating the cancellation of the “Clean Water Agreement” between Daegu and Gumi, Daegu, together with the Ministry of Environment and Andong City, formalized a “Revised Proposal for the Nakdong River Integrated Water Management Plan.” In 2024, after a technical review, the Ministry of Environment submitted this revised proposal to the 2nd Nakdong River Basin Water Management Committee. This course of action has sparked discontent among other metropolitan and local governments in the basin, as well as among environmental groups and local residents. In the midst of this water dispute, the Water Management Committee—which is responsible for deliberating and deciding on major national and basin-level policies—has taken on more of an observer role. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the functions and roles of the Water Management Committee under the Framework Act on Water Management, as well as the rights and obligations of the stakeholders involved in water disputes. Based on the activities of the 1st Nakdong River Basin Water Management Committee, it seeks to present a direction for the future of the committee in handling such conflicts.