Strongly Urges Strict Follow-up Measures
During Five-Minute Free Speech at Main Session
On the 5th, Moon Sugi, a council member of Seosan City, Chungnam, delivering a 5-minute free speech. / Moon Sugi
On the 5th, during the main session of the Seosan City Council in Chungnam, Council Member Moon Sugi delivered a five-minute free speech, strongly urging for strict follow-up measures regarding the first trial verdict on the Hyundai Oilbank phenol wastewater leak incident.
Moon stated, "At the end of 2022, the shadow of the Hyundai Oilbank phenol wastewater leak at the Daesan Industrial Complex fell over our city of Seosan," and added, "After more than two years of activities by the Special Committee on Environmental Pollution Countermeasures and legal battles, the sword of justice has finally begun to move."
She continued, "Before the sentencing, the court confirmed that Hyundai OCI officials had received reports that the wastewater contained phenol exceeding the standard and that action was needed, but no action was taken, clearly establishing intent," and added, "The court defined this as an organized and premeditated crime that would not have been revealed without an internal whistleblower."
She further explained, "Whenever there were complaints about bad odors or during inspections by supervising officials, the valves were switched to send clean water, and after inspections, phenol-containing wastewater was sent again?systematically concealing the act and reducing costs for installing prevention facilities under the Water Environment Conservation Act, irresponsibly using highly toxic substances and seriously endangering citizens' lives," sharing the reasons for the verdict she heard in court on the day of sentencing.
She also pointed out, "Despite threatening the lives and health of citizens by using phenol-containing wastewater in the desulfurization tower and releasing it into the air, the company only expressed its intention to appeal, without a single genuine apology even after being taken into custody, which is infuriating."
Moon urged, "Hyundai Oilbank must sincerely apologize to citizens and present a plan for coexistence, the Ministry of Environment must promptly impose the announced 150.9 billion won fine and use it for Seosan City and its citizens, and Seosan City should demand countermeasures from Hyundai Oilbank together with the residents of Daesan-eup and present the results to the citizens."
She added, "We are witnessing that condoning or neglecting illegal acts can also be a crime in the current situation," and emphasized, "Not only should the main perpetrators of the phenol wastewater leak be held strictly accountable, but I also urge relevant institutions that fail to protect citizens' lives and bodies, or condone or neglect criminal acts, to respond actively."
Meanwhile, on the 26th of last month, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced five current and former executives of Hyundai Oilbank and Hyundai OCI to prison terms and took them into custody in court.
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