Gangjin-gun Announces Measurement Results of Odor-Emitting Businesses with Civil Complaints

Policy Measures to Protect Clean Gangjin: Encouraging Facility Improvements in Odor-Emitting Businesses

Exterior view of Gangjin-gun Office (Photo by Gangjin-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 15th that it has been measuring odors quarterly throughout this year at nine business sites where odor complaints have occurred three or more times, including industrial complexes, and where collective complaints occurred last year, and has been publicly disclosing the results at neighborhood meetings.

By publicly disclosing the odor emission permissible standards and measurement results numerically to the residents, the county aims to eradicate improper operation of odor-emitting businesses and strengthen continuous monitoring functions.

In particular, to enhance administrative credibility of odor measurement, odor samples were collected under the observation of representatives from institutions and social organizations in the Gangjin Industrial Complex and business areas where collective complaints occurred, as well as village chiefs of surrounding villages.

The regular public disclosure has had considerable effects. For Business Site A, which exceeded the odor standard by about three times, facility improvement was recommended twice, and the business operator responded by significantly expanding odor prevention facilities to coexist with local residents. Currently, it complies with the odor emission permissible standards.

In the case of Business Sites B and C, which operated waste disposal businesses and caused odor complaints, residents frequently reported complaints due to odor and improper waste disposal operations of the businesses. Each time, the county strengthened environmental guidance and inspections, and eventually revoked the waste disposal business permits of those that failed to properly comply with the standards.

Other business sites also participated in odor reduction by replacing production facilities and improving odor prevention facilities, receiving evaluations from surrounding residents and odor sample observers that odors have significantly decreased compared to last year.

Lim Chang-bok, Director of the Environment and Livestock Division, said, “Currently, the aforementioned business sites have no odor complaints caused by waste disposal, but there are limits to relying solely on environmental guidance and inspection officials to prevent environmental pollution and minimize residents’ inconvenience caused by odors,” and “We ask for active cooperation from local residents.”

Meanwhile, the county plans to continue measuring odors at odor-emitting business sites at least once a year and to measure odors upon receiving residents’ odor complaints. If emission standards are exceeded, strong administrative measures will be taken to ensure that business operators comply with odor emission permissible standards.

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