Assemblyman An Ho-young, "Serious Delays in Environmental Dispute Mediation Procedures in Flood-Affected Areas"

Urging Reinforcement of Personnel and Budget for the Central Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] Concerns have been raised demanding prompt dispute resolution for residents affected by last year's heavy rains.

On the 13th, Ahn Ho-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Wanju, Muju, Jinan, Jangsu, Environment and Labor Committee), stated at the National Assembly inspection of Ministry of Environment-affiliated agencies, "The delay in environmental dispute resolution procedures for residents in flood-affected areas last year is severe."

According to data submitted to Ahn Ho-young's office by the Central Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee, the affected areas reported to the committee include 8,134 households across 15 cities and counties, with claims amounting to 372 billion KRW.

However, as of the end of last month, most areas had only recently confirmed the first mediation date after document submission in August, indicating an overall delay in the mediation process.

Representative Ahn Ho-young said, "Residents of the affected areas have yet to receive fair compensation even after more than a year since the flood," and added, "Since most of the affected residents are elderly, efforts should be made to strengthen manpower and budget to promptly initiate mediation procedures and restore their daily lives."

Meanwhile, the mediation procedure at the Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee for flood-affected residents was implemented following the passage of the amendment to the 'Environmental Dispute Mediation Act,' which Ahn Ho-young sponsored and was passed in the plenary session this March.

The amendment added "damage caused by changes in river water levels due to river facilities or water resource facilities" to the scope of environmental damage, aiming to enable residents to receive swift and simple relief.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment announced that it would proceed with the environmental dispute mediation process with the goal of completing mediation decisions within three months before this year's flood season, starting in June.

Wanju=Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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