[Ask The Era] Water, Fire, and Air

Half of Previous Administration's Dam Projects Halted
A 'More Hasty' Retreat Raises Questions on Policy Consistency
Securing Power for the AI Industry Also Depends on Basic Resources
World-Class Nuclear Technology and Safety, Yet
Korea

Over the past year living in Tokyo, whenever I felt bored or lonely, I would comfort myself by thinking, "At least I am breathing cleaner air than in Seoul." On clear days, the air was so clean that the peak of Mount Fuji, 90 kilometers away from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, was distinctly visible. However, upon returning to Korea, I found that the air in Seoul had changed. The dull, smoky haze and yellow dust I remembered before leaving had disappeared, replaced by fresh, "living" air that invigorated my lungs. It felt as if I were seeing the clear blue sky of my childhood hometown again, but this time in Seoul.

What is the reason for this change? A significant portion of yellow dust and pollutants is carried by the wind from China. Due to rapid industrialization and indiscriminate use of fossil fuels, both China and Korea have suffered. But now, China has become desperate. Through strict emission regulations and the mass adoption of electric vehicles, the air quality in Beijing has visibly improved, and this has had a positive impact on Seoul as well. This serves as a reminder that water, fire, and air remain essential resources for the future.

Recently, the Ministry of Environment announced that it would halt the development of seven out of fourteen new dam candidate sites, and that the remaining seven would be subject to public discussion before deciding whether to proceed. In effect, this means the projects have been scrapped. The reason given was that these are small dams insufficient to cope with extreme floods or droughts, and that the projects were pushed forward without thorough alternative reviews. This overturns the policy announced just a year ago by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which claimed to have reviewed all alternatives over two years, only a few months after the change in government. Large-scale infrastructure must be designed, constructed, and operated with a decades-long perspective. Regardless of who is right or wrong, it is questionable how deeply and thoroughly the new administration's experts reviewed the matter. If the previous administration was "hasty," why is the new administration being "even hastier" in retracting the policy? Policy builds trust through rigor, consistency, and predictability.

If a dam is to be built, residents oppose it for various reasons, and environmental groups do not remain silent either. It is the government's role to address local complaints while pursuing national projects. From ancient times, the management of mountains and water has been fundamental to governance. Yet, in our environmental policy, every change in administration seems to turn mountains into rivers and rivers into mountains. The minister's remarks about "letting the river flow" and "promoting re-naturalization" recall the logic behind the demolition of the Four Major Rivers weirs under the Moon Jae-in administration. Is this really the time to remain stuck in 19th-century pastoral romanticism? We are living in the 21st century, facing extreme climate change and global warming, with urgent challenges such as heavy rainfall, droughts, and securing clean water. Any so-called "progressive" or "conservative" attempt to turn back the clock is a sham.

The Lee Jaemyung administration has pledged investment and support to lead the era of artificial intelligence (AI). This is a welcome development. For at least the next decade, human civilization will likely be driven by AI. However, even AI ultimately depends on water and fire (electricity) to function. For instance, the ChatGPT system requires thousands or tens of thousands of computers to operate simultaneously for a single question, consuming vast amounts of electricity. Upgrades, learning, and data accumulation demand even more power. High-performance graphics processing unit (GPU) servers, which consume a lot of electricity and generate tremendous heat, require large quantities of cooling water. In semiconductor processes, even a single part per million (ppm) of impurities can cause circuit defects, so water must be purified to the millionth level. Clean air, sufficient water, and stable electricity are the very foundation of the AI industry. So, where will all this electricity come from? Solar and wind power have significant seasonal fluctuations, and with Korea's mountainous terrain, narrow plains, and high population density, these sources lack competitiveness. Without subsidies, the market is difficult to sustain; a large portion of raw materials must be imported, and enormous amounts of industrial waste are generated during breakdowns or post-use processing. Liquefied natural gas (LNG), which must be entirely imported, also carries risks of price volatility and supply instability.

This brings back memories of the "nuclear phase-out" policy under the Moon Jae-in administration. Korea's capabilities in nuclear power plant design, construction, and operation are world-class. Which country can build safe, robust, and cost-effective nuclear plants in a short period? South Korea. These achievements are the result of decades of research, field experience, and public support. Yet, by discarding our technology and capabilities, we lost our place in the global market, and highly skilled professionals left their jobs in tears. While renewable energies such as wind and solar power have flourished under various special permits, they have also caused increased environmental burdens, such as mountain destruction and waste panels.

President Lee Jaemyung is also negative about nuclear power, stating that "it takes a long time to build and is dangerous." However, the real danger lies in the impatience to achieve quick results within a five-year presidential term. Even if it takes more than ten years to build a nuclear plant, its benefits transcend time and generations. People may leave, but their achievements remain.

Sometimes, the very perception of "danger" is itself dangerous. Is there any infrastructure in the world that is completely risk-free? Not long ago, the entire body of national data was lost because backup and safety management were neglected under the pretext of budget constraints. If nuclear power is dangerous, then so are thermal power plants, substations, apartments, and cars. The key is safety management. In this regard, Korea's nuclear power plants have the world's strictest safety standards and records. There has not been a single major accident in decades. While healthy debate about the role of nuclear energy is necessary, suppressing nuclear power could leave an indelible stain on history.

If the president is passive about nuclear power, industry and technology will shrink. Yet, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and France are all building new nuclear plants. China alone has about 100 new nuclear plants, many of which are located along the West Sea. If even one of these were to have an accident, the damage would be carried directly to us by ocean currents and winds. Are we to remain silent toward them while restricting our own technology as "dangerous"? While other countries are racing to build nuclear plants, we are on the verge of abandoning our world-leading technology and safety standards. We are undermining our most promising export industry and a key factor for long-term national vision. As our competitors lure away our experts, we cannot simply appeal to patriotism and ask them to endure. If this kind of suspension and psychological pressure continues, talent will leave, and if a real accident were to occur in their absence, what then?

Water, fire, and air-these three have been, and will continue to be, indispensable resources and precious elements from ancient times to the present and into the future. How can there be hope for a country that voluntarily gives up its global competitiveness? In the AI era, where is Korea truly headed?

Kim Hyungoh, Former Speaker of the National Assembly