[On-site Video] "Stop Coal Power!" Anti-Coal Performance in the Heart of Gangnam

Environmental Groups in Front of POSCO General Meeting Urge Coal Power Plant Shutdown

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han, PD Jingeun Yoon] "Stop Coal Power Plants!"

On the 18th, environmental groups held a protest in front of the POSCO Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, demanding the halt of coal power plant construction. The purpose was to raise public awareness about the seriousness of pollutants such as greenhouse gas emissions and high concentrations of fine dust caused by coal-fired power plants.

Fifteen activists from the Green Korea United covered their entire bodies with black coal dust around 9:15 a.m. in front of the POSCO Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, urging POSCO to stop building coal-fired power plants. This campaign was jointly planned by Green Korea United and the Ijaeseok Advertising Research Institute.

Green Alliance activists covered in black powder urging the halt of the construction of the Samcheok Blue Power coal power plant. Photo by Yonhap News

Dozens of activists held placards repeatedly calling for "POSCO to stop the construction of the Samcheok coal power plant."

Green Korea United, which organized the protest, criticized, "Despite continuous demands from civil society, the construction of the Samcheok coal power plant is ongoing." They added, "We prepared this to raise awareness and strongly protest that coal power projects pursued for corporate profits threaten the lives and rights of residents, workers, and citizens."

Green Alliance activists covered their bodies with black powder and are performing a demonstration condemning POSCO's coal power plant construction project. Photo by Yonhap News

Hwang Incheol, team leader of the Climate and Energy Team at Green Korea United, pointed out, "Workers at coal power plants say that even after working just one day, their entire face and body are covered with coal dust. This is the behavior POSCO is engaging in. They continue coal power generation. It is the main culprit threatening the future of humanity through climate disasters."

Ijaeseok, CEO of the Ijaeseok Advertising Research Institute, explained, "Environmental issues are not noticeable unless they are visible right in front of us. After pondering how to make people feel this, we prepared this campaign to show how serious the problems of thermal power generation are by physically covering ourselves with coal dust."