Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, Issues Statement Urging Complete Cancellation of New Resource Recovery Facility & Requests Exclusion of Districts with Existing Facilities... Strong Regret over Seoul City's Unilateral Procedures Without Consultation
Residents of Mapo District at the press conference for the new metropolitan resource recovery facility special statement
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, on the 31st issued a special statement titled “Demand for the Complete Cancellation of the New Resource Recovery Facility,” strongly calling for the full withdrawal of Seoul City's decision to select the site for the metropolitan resource recovery facility.
This came in response to Seoul City's announcement on the same day that the current Mapo Resource Recovery Facility site was chosen as the candidate location for the metropolitan resource recovery facility (new resource recovery facility).
The statement includes ▲a demand for the complete cancellation and withdrawal of Seoul City's plan to install the metropolitan resource recovery facility in Mapo District ▲a call for Seoul City to establish fundamental measures for waste management ▲an appeal regarding the decades of suffering and inconvenience experienced by Mapo residents due to the resource recovery facility, Seoul Thermal Power Plant, Nanji Island landfill, and the demolition of Bamseom Island for Han River development ▲and a demand that the city provide practical compensation to Mapo residents who have long endured hardships caused by the current Mapo resource recovery facility.
Mayor Park stated in the statement, “Since 2005, Mapo District has been operating a 750-ton capacity resource recovery facility, and despite residents enduring serious damages, Seoul City’s plan to establish a new metropolitan resource recovery facility in Mapo without fundamental waste management measures forces even greater sacrifices on Mapo residents and greatly violates regional equity.”
He especially noted, “When submitting opinions on the ‘Agreement (Draft) Regarding the Installation of Resource Recovery Facilities’ to Seoul City on the 17th, we requested that districts with existing resource recovery facilities be excluded from site selection. Nevertheless, Seoul City proceeded unilaterally without any prior consultation and announced the results, which we express serious concern and strong regret about.”
Furthermore, he said, “In addition to the resource recovery facility, Mapo District uniquely hosts the Seoul Thermal Power Plant, where residents have long endured dust and fallout damages for the stable power supply of Seoul citizens. For decades, Mapo has lived under the stigma of a ‘garbage island’ due to Nanji Island, where about 80 million truckloads of waste from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province citizens have been landfilled. Moreover, in 1968, about 62 households became displaced due to the demolition of Bamseom Island for Han River development. Mapo residents have endured long-term suffering and inconvenience for the welfare of all Seoul citizens.”
He added, “Despite this, adding new suffering through such a decision completely disregards the 370,000 residents of Mapo. Regardless of political affiliation, we will unite all Mapo residents and actively respond to Seoul City’s decision to select the metropolitan resource recovery facility site for withdrawal.”
The district plans to strongly respond to Seoul City’s decision by forming a task force to directly address the metropolitan resource recovery facility site selection and later establishing and operating a resident consultative body through public-private cooperation.
Special Statement by Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District
- Demand for the Complete Cancellation of the New Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility -
Seoul City must completely cancel and withdraw the plan to establish a metropolitan resource recovery facility in Mapo District!
On August 31, Seoul City unilaterally announced the ‘Plan to Install a New Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility in Mapo District.’ As the mayor representing local residents, I express deep regret and strongly protest this decision.
Mapo District has been operating a 750-ton capacity resource recovery facility since 2005. In response to Seoul City’s request for opinions on the ‘Agreement Regarding the Installation of Resource Recovery Facilities,’ we replied on August 17, requesting that districts with existing resource recovery facilities be excluded from site selection.
However, Seoul City has pushed forward with the policy ignoring the will of local residents expressed by Mapo District, and we can no longer remain silent.
We endured when Nanji Island, once a place where flowers bloomed and birds flew, was turned into a landfill emitting foul odors for over a decade, burying all kinds of waste from 8,000 truckloads discarded by Seoul and Gyeonggi residents.
We endured when the only thermal power plant in Seoul was built under the guise of modernization, suffering dust and fallout for 100 years.
We silently endured when about 440 residents lost their homes overnight due to the demolition of the beautiful Bamseom Island in 1968 for the development of Yeouido and the Han River.
Despite being the sacrificial victim of policies opposed and avoided by all regions and residents, Mapo District has not received proper compensation.
Nevertheless, Mapo has borne decades of pain and sorrow solely for the benefit and welfare of all Seoul citizens, including waste disposal and stable power supply.
Mapo District, which has transformed from a neglected wasteland into a representative residential area and cultural and artistic center of Seoul over a long period, should not be burdened again with a stigmatized facility.
We once again express strong regret over Seoul City’s unilateral and coercive administration and, representing 370,000 Mapo residents, urge the following:
First, Seoul City must completely cancel and immediately withdraw the plan to install the metropolitan resource recovery facility in Mapo District.
Second, Seoul City must establish fundamental and equitable waste management measures.
Third, Seoul City must provide practical compensation to residents currently suffering from the resource recovery facility operating in Mapo District.
August 31, 2022
Mayor of Mapo District, Park Gang-su
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