President Lee still keen on Seoul-Busan canal project

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Seoul: President Lee Myung-bak has not given up hopes of building canals throughout the country, something that was part of his election campaign but did not meet the mood of the country and was shelved last year. However, yesterday he stressed the importance of building waterways, saying the country is not effectively using the seas that surround the Korean Peninsula.
"We cannot grow if what needs to be opened up remains blocked. Our failure to effectively utilize rivers and the seas when the country is surrounded by them on three sides is a serious mistake," the president said in a ceremony marking the start of construction on a canal that will connect Seoul's Han River to the western Yellow Sea.
The remarks could reignite accusations that Lee has not given up on his controversial plan to build a canal to connect the capital with the southern port city of Busan. [07/05/09]