Citizen Group: "National Pension Service Must Contribute to Preventing Environmental Disasters"

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Civic groups have urged the National Pension Service to take social responsibility to prevent the recurrence of environmental disasters.

On the 28th at around 11 a.m., civic groups held a press conference in front of the Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to announce this. Participating civic groups included the Reform Solidarity Livelihood Action, Public Interest Citizen Rights Council, Global Econet, and the Central Association of the Administrative and Legislative Monitoring Network.

They argued that the National Pension Service should demand the prevention of environmental disasters at the KT&G regular shareholders' meeting scheduled for the 29th, concerning Jangjeom Village in Iksan, Jeonbuk. It is claimed that residents of Jangjeom Village developed cancer due to the treatment process of tobacco dust, a byproduct created during the cigarette manufacturing process. According to the Jangjeom Village Victims' Countermeasures Committee, out of about 90 residents, around 40 have developed cancer and 17 have died.

Choi Jae-cheol, chairman of the Jangjeom Village Victims' Countermeasures Committee, criticized, "Even residents who are currently not ill live each day in anxiety," adding, "We have continuously urged for a meeting with the KT&G president and an official apology, but they have consistently remained silent."

Kim Sun-hong, executive chairman of Global Econet, said, "The National Pension Service manages and operates funds considering non-financial factors such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and can exercise shareholder rights independently and transparently," adding, "At the KT&G regular shareholders' meeting, they should propose a resolution to carry out compensation and restitution in the spirit of fulfilling social responsibility for the environmental disaster damage in Jangjeom Village."

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