Annual Handling of 4,900 Tons of Hazardous Chemicals...
Thousands of Damage Reports Filed
Comprehensive Monitoring of Air, Water, and Soil, and Epidemiological Investigation Needed
On May 23, the Gwangju Federation for Environmental Movements defined the fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant as "not a simple factory fire, but a chemical accident involving the combustion of hazardous chemicals," and called for the formation of a joint public-private countermeasure committee.
On the morning of the 22nd, emergency authorities are dismantling the fire-damaged building using heavy machinery at Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
In a statement released that day, the organization said, "This fire involved the burning of various chemicals used in the tire manufacturing process, such as natural and synthetic rubber, carbon black, oil, vulcanizing agents, and antioxidants," and pointed out, "Despite causing serious public health and environmental problems, the response from the relevant authorities remains inadequate."
The Gwangju City Government and the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office announced that "the levels of air pollutants were below the regulatory standards, and hazardous substances were either not detected or found only in trace amounts." However, the actual damage experienced by citizens differs from these findings. According to Gwangsan-gu and the organization, as of the previous day, a total of 5,377 citizen damage reports had been filed, with more than 3,000 cases involving health issues such as headaches, dizziness, and respiratory problems.
The organization stated, "It is difficult to understand the gap between the damage experienced by citizens and the announced figures," and emphasized, "Given the limitations of air pollution measurement, such as the measurement methods and wind direction, comprehensive monitoring of long-term health impacts on soil and water quality is necessary."
On the third day of the fire at Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant on the 19th, firefighters are inspecting the fire site at Kumho Tire Plant 2 in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
The organization also demanded transparent disclosure of the types and amounts of hazardous chemicals used and lost during the fire. It stated, "Kumho Tire handles 4,900 tons of hazardous chemicals annually," and explained, "The figures announced by the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office are based on the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) for workplace environments, which cannot be directly compared to public health standards for ordinary citizens."
Additionally, the organization called for thorough prevention of secondary environmental pollution, such as dust and chemical dispersion during the dismantling and cleanup of the fire site, and during waste disposal. It also urged the Ministry of Employment and Labor to examine the exposure of workers involved in the demolition to hazardous substances, and called on the Environmental Office to strictly manage and supervise the waste disposal process.
Regarding the city of Gwangju's announcement that pollutant levels were "below the standard," the organization criticized it as "an extremely passive response." The organization stressed, "There is a need for a substantive epidemiological investigation and concrete measures for citizens reporting health problems, residents experiencing psychological distress, and firefighters and officials who participated in extinguishing the fire."
The organization also pointed out the necessity of measures to maintain employment and livelihoods for workers, as well as investigations and compensation for damages to nearby residents and local businesses. They stated, "This incident is not just a problem for Kumho Tire but a major social disaster involving citizens' health and safety, environmental rights, and labor rights," and added, "A joint public-private countermeasure committee involving Gwangju City, Gwangsan-gu, the City Council, the Environmental Office, and the Employment and Labor Office must be formed immediately."
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