Support for Pollution Damage in Industrial Complex Surrounding Areas... Lee Sun-hee, Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member, Leads Ordinance Proposal

Lee Seon-hee, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly (People Power Party·Cheongdo), has taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Gyeongsangbuk-do Industrial Complex Development Support Ordinance," which stipulates matters related to support for residents living around industrial complexes who are negatively affected by the development of general industrial complexes and environmental pollution.

The amended ordinance passed the review by the Construction and Fire Committee on the 24th.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member Lee Sun-hee

The amendment stipulates that the governor may designate areas adjacent to general industrial complexes, over which the governor has designation authority, as "areas surrounding general industrial complexes" if they are recognized as being affected by the industrial complex in terms of living environment, and support projects such as improving the living environment and promoting residents' health.

Earlier, the Ministry of Environment announced in 2023, through the "3rd National Industrial Complex Regional Residents' Environmental Pollution Exposure and Health Impact Survey," that although the concentrations of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air around some industrial complexes (such as Pohang and Ulsan) were lower than the air quality standards, they were somewhat higher than the national average, indicating the need for strengthened management of emission facilities and environmental improvements. It also stated that multifaceted efforts and continuous investigation and monitoring are necessary to reduce environmental and health impacts around industrial complexes in the future.

Lee Seon-hee of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly said, "Local governments have tended to prioritize regional economic revitalization and have sometimes overlooked health issues and environmental pollution problems affecting residents around industrial complexes during the development and operation of industrial complexes," adding, "Through this amendment, I hope to contribute to the welfare enhancement and quality of life improvement of residents living around industrial complexes who are negatively affected in their living environment due to general industrial complexes."

This ordinance will be finally processed at the 2nd plenary session of the 346th Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Assembly extraordinary session on May 3.