*This content was translated by AI.
On the 28th, it was announced that the results of large-scale environmental investments sustained by Yongfeng Seokpo Smelter over several years are consistently confirmed in public water quality data. Major heavy metals were virtually undetected at key water quality monitoring stations in the Nakdong River basin surrounding the smelter, and overall water quality was found to be maintained at a pristine level.
According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's Water Environment Information System on the 28th, water quality at Seokpo1 through Seokpo4 monitoring stations in the Nakdong River basin near Yongfeng Seokpo Smelter recorded good levels for both major heavy metal measurements and water quality indicators. The Seokpo1 station is located upstream of the Seokpo Smelter, while Seokpo2, Seokpo3, and Seokpo4 stations are installed downstream.
On May 14, major heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, and copper at the downstream monitoring stations (Seokpo2 to Seokpo4) were all found to be below the 'quantification limit.' Being below the quantification limit means the concentration is lower than the minimum level that measurement equipment can quantitatively confirm.
Key indicators representing water quality were also good. Dissolved oxygen (DO) at the Seokpo2 station recorded 10.1mg/L, reaching a 'very good' level, while biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was 2.2mg/L and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 5.5mg/L, confirming that overall water quality is being maintained in a pristine state. Results at the Seokpo3 and Seokpo4 monitoring stations downstream of the smelter were similar.
The difference becomes even more pronounced when compared with other regions.
Looking at water quality measurement results from May 7 at monitoring stations near Ulsan Onsan Industrial Complex, where other domestic zinc smelters are located, zinc concentrations in Ijinri Stream and Wonsancheon were 0.13049mg/L and 0.08275mg/L, respectively, recording levels approximately 7.8 times and 5.0 times higher than at the Seokpo2 station. Major heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, and copper were detected in Wonsancheon, while cadmium and copper were detected in Ijinri Stream.
Industry analysts attribute this water quality difference to Yongfeng's continuous environmental investments and the establishment of eco-friendly facilities.
Since establishing its 'Environmental Improvement Innovation Plan' in 2019, Yongfeng has invested approximately 540 billion won in the environmental sector through the end of 2025. Continuing annual environmental investments of around 100 billion won, the company has focused on reducing pollutants, improving water quality, and building eco-friendly processes.
A representative example is the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system, which was introduced for the first time in a smelter worldwide in 2021. The ZLD system, built with a total investment of 46 billion won, is an eco-friendly facility that does not discharge process wastewater externally but instead reuses all of it.
The ZLD system can process up to 4,000 cubic meters of process water per day and currently reuses an average of 2,000 to 2,500 cubic meters daily, achieving the effect of reducing river water intake by approximately 880,000 cubic meters annually.
Yongfeng has registered patents for its ZLD technology, and the system is evaluated as a representative eco-friendly water treatment model in the domestic industrial sector. Recently, benchmarking visits by local government officials and industrial complex managers have continued, further recognizing the excellence of its environmental technology.
Additionally, the company installed large-scale groundwater spread prevention facilities surrounding the smelter plant perimeter and separately stores all initial rainfall (80mm) in a dedicated rainwater storage facility (strictly managed compared to the legal requirement of 5mm), then reuses it as process water. This effectively blocks all pollutants within the business site from being discharged into the Nakdong River basin.
These environmental improvement efforts are also leading to changes in the ecosystem. Recently, the river ecosystem around the Nakdong River near Seokpo Smelter is evaluated as being stably maintained, with continuous confirmation of the habitat of the water otter, an endangered wild animal.
A representative of Yongfeng Seokpo Smelter stated, "The results of environmental investments are being confirmed through objective data and the on-site ecosystem," adding, "Going forward, we will continue to invest in eco-friendly facilities and advance environmental management to create a sustainable smelter that coexists with the local community."
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*This content was translated by AI.
