Soil remediation around the Seokpo Smelter remains a challenge… Delays in cleanup and police reinvestigation intensify pressure for environmental improvement

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

As the environmental pollution issues surrounding the Youngpoong Seokpo Smelter in Bonghwa County, Gyeongsangbuk-do persist, controversy continues over delays in soil remediation in surrounding areas and suspicions of heavy metal contamination in the Nakdong River. Although Youngpoong has emphasized that it is pushing forward with large-scale environmental improvement investments, the soil remediation rate for surrounding areas confirmed in past reports stood at only 13.1%. While subsequent remediation results have shown some improvement, a significant amount of contaminated soil remains, and attention is focused on whether substantive environmental improvements will be achieved as police reinvestigation into Youngpoong advisor Jang Hyeong-jin proceeds.

According to the final report of the "Feasibility Review of Sustainable Coexistence Strategy and Response Measures for the Seokpo Smelter" released by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the total volume of contaminated soil at the Seokpo Smelter was recorded as 821,781 cubic meters as of August 20, 2025. Of this, 405,332 cubic meters had been remediated, resulting in an overall progress rate of 49.3%. With only about half of the total contaminated soil volume remediated, a substantial scale of follow-up remediation work is required across the entire project.

In particular, there was a significant gap in remediation rates between inside and outside the smelter. The internal remediation rate was 78.4%, but the external rate stood at only 24.2%. For surrounding areas, which account for the largest share of external remediation targets, only 43,978 cubic meters out of a total contaminated soil volume of 335,636 cubic meters had been remediated, leaving the progress rate at 13.1%. Concerns over project delays are emerging given that remediation in surrounding areas, where large-scale contaminated soil is concentrated among external targets, is progressing slowly.

Remediation results for the industrial complex and some factories inside the smelter were also low. The industrial complex (San 32-4) had a progress rate of 10.27%, having remediated 5,506 cubic meters out of a contaminated soil volume of 53,592 cubic meters. The No. 2 factory inside the smelter also recorded a progress rate of 17.5%, having remediated only 21,793 cubic meters out of a target volume of 124,330 cubic meters. In contrast, the No. 1 factory was recorded at 52.0%, showing differences in remediation results by zone even within the same smelter facility.

The report analyzed that while compliance with action orders for riverbed land and employee apartments had been completed, the remediation rates for surrounding areas and the industrial complex were relatively low, necessitating follow-up projects centered on remaining contaminated plots. It explained that delays in remediation in these areas, where large amounts of contaminated soil remain, are also affecting the overall project progress. This implies the need for a systematic remediation plan and implementation management for remaining contaminated plots, going beyond merely completing remediation work in some zones.

However, subsequent remediation results have shown some improvement. Reports citing follow-up data as of late July 2026 recorded an overall remediation rate of 53.6% and a surrounding area remediation rate of 27.0%. These are improved figures compared to the report based on August 2025 data. Nevertheless, points have been raised that the speed and effectiveness of the remediation project must be increased, as a considerable amount of target contaminated soil remains in surrounding areas.

The issue of delayed soil remediation was also raised during the National Assembly’s annual audit. Lee Heon-seung, a member of the People Power Party on the Climate Energy Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly, pointed out during the 2026 National Assembly audit that the soil remediation order for the Seokpo Smelter had not been completed for over 10 years. In particular, he disclosed the fact that an additional 125,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil had been identified beyond the original remediation order targets, urging the formulation of effective countermeasures. Concerns have been raised that the possibility of long-term prolongation of the remediation project cannot be ruled out when considering both the existing remediation targets and the additionally identified contaminated soil.

Controversy over the reliability of the "Feasibility Review of Sustainable Coexistence Strategy and Response Measures for the Seokpo Smelter" commissioned by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province is also ongoing. During the National Assembly audit, questions were raised regarding the background of changing the project name from one centered on "relocation" to "coexistence strategy," as well as the objectivity of analyses relying on materials provided by Youngpoong. Doubts have been raised about whether the direction and analytical process of the commission were carried out objectively and in a balanced manner.

At the time, Lee Hae-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, reportedly criticized the commission, stating, "It feels like they are trying to give the company a free pass through shoddy and sloppy research." As the commission reviews environmental pollution issues at the Seokpo Smelter and coexistence measures with the local community, it has been pointed out that the reliability of survey data and the independence of analysis must be secured.

Meanwhile, police reinvestigation into Youngpoong advisor Jang Hyeong-jin regarding suspicions of heavy metal contamination in the Nakdong River by the Seokpo Smelter is also underway. On November 2 last month, police began reinvestigating cases related to Advisor Jang and conducted complainant investigations with officials from the Environmental Damage Residents’ Action Committee and others.

Previously, the Residents’ Action Committee filed a complaint against Advisor Jang, alleging that the Seokpo Smelter had illegally discharged heavy metals into the Nakdong River for a long period and failed to properly implement soil remediation measures. Police dismissed the case last year, but the investigation was reopened after the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Investigation Review Committee decided in August 2026 to reinvestigate charges of violating the Environmental Crime Enforcement Act and the Soil Environment Conservation Act.

Following delays in the soil remediation project, the identification of additional contaminated soil, and controversy over the objectivity of the commission, police reinvestigation has further intensified, meaning environmental issues surrounding the Seokpo Smelter remain an ongoing concern. Attention is focused on how much substantive result Youngpoong, which has emphasized large-scale environmental improvement investments, can deliver in remediating remaining contaminated soil in surrounding areas and resolving suspicions of environmental pollution.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original