Park Sugi, Gwangju City Council Member: "City Neglected Carcinogen-Contaminated Groundwater for Two Years"

Citizens' Health at Risk Due to Irresponsible and Complacent Administration
Passive Response Criticized Despite Confirmation of Pollution

Park Sugi, a member of Gwangju City Council, is asking a municipal administration question at the 334th extraordinary session plenary meeting on the 15th. Provided by Gwangju City Council

It has been revealed that, due to Gwangju City's complacent and irresponsible administration, groundwater contaminated with Class 1 carcinogens has been neglected for over two years, putting citizens' lives and health at serious risk.

On July 15, Park Sugi, a member of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangsan District 5), pointed out the severe pollution of groundwater in the Hanam Industrial Complex during a municipal administration question at the 334th extraordinary session plenary meeting, and called for immediate safety measures.

She criticized the inaction of both Gwangju City and Gwangsan District, stating, "Trichloroethylene (TCE), which causes kidney cancer and central nervous system damage, and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) were detected at levels up to 466 times and 284 times the standard, respectively."

She further emphasized that the pollutants are spreading from the Hanam Industrial Complex toward the Suwan District and Pungyeongjeongcheon, and that carcinogens exceeding the standard have been detected even in household-use wells in residential areas. Park described this situation as "a disaster-level crisis directly affecting citizens' lives."

Gwangju City had already recognized the possibility of contamination when it established its 'Groundwater Management Plan' in 2019, and hazardous substances continued to be detected during a detailed investigation of groundwater and soil pollution at the Hanam Industrial Complex, which was conducted from 2020 to 2023 with a budget of 1 billion KRW. However, despite these investigation reports, the city took no response measures, and citizens have been exposed to carcinogens for over two years.

Addressing Mayor Kang Gijung, Park asserted, "The first responsibility and duty of local government is to protect the safety and health of its citizens," and directly criticized, "The mayor's failure to apologize or take action regarding the neglect of groundwater contaminated with Class 1 carcinogens is tantamount to dereliction of duty."

Park also urged, "The city must immediately suspend the use of wells in the Suwan District, and take action to block the spread of contamination and begin purification efforts," emphasizing, "No administrative priority is higher than the lives and safety of citizens. Activate an emergency response system right now, secure a purification budget of 15 billion KRW, and start measures to prevent further contamination."