[2020 National Audit] Greenbelt Area Equivalent to 75 Soccer Fields Covered with Solar Energy Facilities

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Over the past decade, greenbelt areas (development-restricted zones) equivalent to the size of 75 soccer fields have been covered with solar energy facilities.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 8th to Song Eon-seok, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the People Power Party, from 2009 to 2019, there were a total of 210 permits issued for solar energy facilities within greenbelt areas nationwide, covering an area of 534,197㎡.

This corresponds to the size of 75 soccer fields (7,140㎡ each).

By region, the Seoul Capital Area had the largest area at 252,638㎡, followed by the Busan area with 117,172㎡, the Gwangju area with 74,636㎡, and the Daegu area with 68,560㎡. Within the Seoul Capital Area, Gyeonggi Province accounted for almost all with 243,928㎡, followed by Incheon City with 7,413㎡ and Seoul City with 1,297㎡.

Over the past decade, the number of permits issued for solar energy facilities nationwide increased 13.4 times. The number of permits, which was only 5 in 2009, rose to 13 in 2013, 22 in 2017, and reached a remarkable 67 last year. Notably, the permits issued in the last three years (135 cases) accounted for 64.3% of the total.

Assemblyman Song said, "The greenbelt, which is meant to preserve the natural environment around cities, is being turned into a 'solar belt' due to indiscriminate permitting, which is actually damaging the natural environment," and added, "Stricter standards are needed for facility permits within greenbelt areas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.