70% of Naepo New Town Residents Say Livestock Odor Has Improved

Seven out of ten residents in Naepo New Town felt that the livestock odor problem has "improved" this year compared to last year. The livestock odor issue is one of the biggest challenges in Naepo New Town, and Chungnam Province has been implementing measures to improve the livestock odor.

On the 27th, Chungnam Province announced that a survey on the "improvement of livestock odor" was conducted targeting 300 residents (235 valid responses) of apartment complexes in Naepo New Town and residents of Hongbuk-eup, with 159 respondents stating that the odor had "improved."

This figure represents an increase of 37 people (14.1%) compared to last year’s 122 respondents (53.6%) out of 229 valid responses who said the livestock odor had "improved." When breaking down the degree of improvement, 78 people (33.2%) responded "greatly improved," and 81 people (34.5%) responded "slightly improved."

The number of respondents who felt the livestock odor this year was 162 (68.9%), which is a 5.3% decrease from 170 people (74.2%) last year. Regarding the intensity of the odor, 65 people (27.7%) said it was "quite strong or strong," down 5.9% from 77 people (33.6%) last year.

Respondents identified summer (129 people, 53.3%) as the season with the most odor occurrence, the time period from 6 p.m. to midnight (83 people, 35.5%), cloudy days (122 people, 50.4%) as the weather with the most odor, and the direction of the odor as toward the Hongbuk-eup Office (82 people, 34.9%).

Since 2017, Chungnam Province has established comprehensive measures annually to reduce livestock odor in Naepo New Town.

The comprehensive measures implemented so far include ▲holding joint meetings for livestock odor improvement in Naepo New Town (Chungnam Province - Hongseong and Yesan counties) ▲relocation or closure of livestock farms around Naepo New Town (12 completed, 1 in progress) ▲24-hour monitoring using unmanned odor collectors (7 locations) ▲livestock odor improvement projects (support for odor reducers, etc.) ▲joint guidance and inspection of livestock manure discharge facilities.

Regarding these measures by Chungnam Province, 202 respondents (85.9%) said they "know or have heard of them," and 147 respondents (62.5%) said the measures are "effective," showing increases of 21.7% and 12.5%, respectively, compared to last year.

The survey is conducted annually to understand how Naepo New Town residents perceive the livestock odor reduction measures promoted by Chungnam Province and Hongseong and Yesan counties and to set future directions.

A Chungnam Province official stated, "The survey results confirm that the majority of Naepo New Town residents believe that the livestock odor is continuously improving and that the improved state is being maintained." The official added, "Chungnam Province will continue to conduct monitoring activities to ensure that Naepo New Town residents can live in a pleasant environment."