Assemblyman Lee Gae-ho: "Government Expansion of Offshore Wind Power... Must Avoid Fishermen's Damage"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Rep. Lee Gae-ho (Democratic Party of Korea·Damyang Hampyeong Yeonggwang Jangseong) conveyed the concerns of fishermen regarding the government's plan to expand offshore wind power during the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard on the 8th, urging the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to take active measures such as establishing compensation for damages and procedures for collecting opinions.

The government is currently promoting plans to establish 67 new offshore wind power facilities nationwide, aiming to expand offshore wind power facilities by 100 times from the current 6 sites with 132.5W capacity, in accordance with the ‘Renewable Energy 3020 Plan’ to increase the share of renewable energy generation from 7% to 20%.

Rep. Lee stated, “While the rationale and effects of expanding offshore wind power?such as responding to climate change through greenhouse gas reduction and introduction of eco-friendly energy, job creation and economic stimulus through the Green New Deal?are clear in line with the global trend of expanding new renewable energy, it must also be clearly recognized that the voices of fishermen who are concerned about this are loud. Fishermen worry that the expansion of offshore wind power will ultimately lead to the loss of their livelihoods due to indiscriminate installation of offshore wind facilities causing loss of fishing areas, disruption of marine ecosystems due to noise and electromagnetic waves, and lack of empirical research on the impact on the marine environment and fishery resources. They are especially angry that their voices are being ignored during the promotion process.”

He continued, “As the ministry responsible for the sea rather than energy, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries must listen carefully to these voices of fishermen and make every effort to establish compensation and systems to ensure that fishermen do not suffer damages from the expansion of offshore wind power.”

He also expressed condolences and deep sympathy to the victims and bereaved families regarding the recent controversial incident of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official being shot.

Rep. Lee urged, “Please make every effort to thoroughly investigate and examine this incident, to recover the bodies that have not yet been retrieved, and to fully support the bereaved families.”

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