"Not Discussing" vs "Need to Clarify Facts": Ruling and Opposition Disagree Over Solar Power National Investigation

United Future Party and People's Party Demand 'Solar Power National Audit' Growing
Opposition: "Installing Panels on Hillsides Has Undermined Land Base"
Ruling Party Dismisses Solar Power National Audit Discussions
Government: "Only 0.1% of Solar Facilities Nationwide Have Damage"

On the afternoon of the 8th, solar power facilities in Daerang-dong, Jecheon-si, Chungbuk were damaged by a landslide. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Voices demanding a so-called 'solar power national audit (national investigation)' are growing, as opposition parties such as the United Future Party and the People's Party claim that mountain solar power facilities have caused forest damage and increased landslide damage. However, the Democratic Party of Korea dismissed this, saying "there was no such discussion," indicating that the conflict is expected to deepen.

On the 10th, Lee Chae-ik, chairman of the United Future Party's Special Committee on Nuclear Phase-out Measures, issued a statement saying, "There are increasing claims that the 'mountain solar power facilities' that have mushroomed due to the current government's reckless nuclear phase-out policy are the cause of landslides," adding, "During this rainy season, landslides occurred at six mountain solar power facilities."

He explained, "Solar panels are installed on mountain slopes with a certain gradient to receive sunlight for as long as possible, but experts point out that in the process, trees and soil foundations that could withstand heavy rain collapsed."

Chairman Lee added, "The scale of new mountain solar power facility construction increased by 271% in 2017, the first year of the Moon Jae-in administration, compared to the previous year, and by 170% in 2018," and "The amount of mountain cutting and tree felling from 2017 to 2019 was equivalent to 2,327,000 trees, 15 times the area of Yeouido."

He emphasized, "The government must investigate comprehensively to identify any problems with the recklessly built solar power facilities under the current administration, which are being called a 'foreseen man-made disaster.' The ruling party should also accept the United Future Party's proposal for a national audit on the current government's nuclear phase-out and solar power energy policies and clearly reveal the facts on whether the rushed energy policies threaten public safety."

Kim Jong-in, chairman of the United Future Party's Emergency Response Committee, said at a press conference that day, "We will verify the overall situation and determine what problems there were with solar power installations on the mountains."

Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party, urged the Board of Audit and Inspection to investigate and called for a national audit by the opposition coalition regarding mountain solar power facilities, saying at the party's supreme council meeting, "The unsightly solar power facilities that have been dug up all over the country have paralyzed the natural flood control function," and "The weakened ground caused landslides in many places, and the soil that was washed down covered numerous villages, causing casualties."

On the 9th, a ginseng field and a solar power facility in Daesan-ri, Jewon-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam, were submerged in the Geum River water flooded due to the discharge from Yongdam Dam on the 8th. / Photo by Yonhap News

While voices from the opposition demanding a solar power national audit are growing, the ruling party claimed that "there was no discussion." According to a report by 'Yonhap News' on the same day, Kim Young-jin, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader, dismissed the idea of a solar power national audit in a phone interview with the media, saying, "There was no discussion."

However, he said that discussions were held regarding the establishment of special committees for balanced national development and energy, and although no final agreement was reached, a consensus was formed.

Amid the disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties over the solar power national audit, the government directly responded, stating that the claim that mountain solar power facilities caused landslides is not true.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) issued a press release that day, stating that only a very small portion of mountain solar power facilities experienced landslide damage.

According to MOTIE, as of the end of last year, among 12,721 mountain solar power facilities, only 0.1% (12 sites) had damage as of the previous day (the 9th). Compared to the total number of landslides (1,174 cases) that have occurred so far, the proportion of damage cases involving solar power facilities is 1% (12 cases).

However, the government plans to operate an emergency response team in cooperation with the Korea Forest Service and local governments until the heavy rain situation ends, to monitor the operation status of solar power facilities in real time.

MOTIE stated, "We will operate the emergency response team to ensure rapid reporting and emergency recovery measures are implemented," and added, "In addition, to prepare for similar situations, we will consult with the Korea Forest Service and experts to review and prepare additional institutional improvement measures to strengthen safety management of renewable energy facilities, including mountain solar power."