Seoul Civil Corps, 6 Companies Caught and Charged for Illegal Discharge of 'Malignant Harmful Wastewater'

Planned Crackdown on 50 Facilities Emitting Specific Water Pollutants Such as Dyeing and Plating from June to August

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit announced on the 6th that it has criminally charged six businesses, including dyeing companies that illegally discharge wastewater, after conducting a planned crackdown on 50 businesses discharging harmful wastewater during the summer season, when management and supervision are weak.

This planned crackdown focused on dyeing, metal processing, and other companies discharging wastewater containing specific water quality hazardous substances, following suspicions and concerns that some businesses deliberately do not operate pollution treatment facilities despite having installed them during the summer season, when supervision is vulnerable due to heavy rains.

In this crackdown, a total of six companies were caught, including two operating unauthorized facilities and four permitted companies that operated treatment facilities only in formality, such as diluting pollution with tap water or illegally discharging wastewater through branch pipes installed midway. The ‘G’ and ‘N’ companies, which dye fabric samples and auxiliary materials, were caught after secretly discharging wastewater containing specific water quality hazardous substances such as mercury and formaldehyde above the standard limits through septic tanks and public sewage pipes for decades without reporting or obtaining permission from the local district office while hiding in the same location.

Next, the ‘D’ and ‘R’ companies, which process various metal products, installed and operated facilities to treat wastewater generated from wet grinding facilities but diluted the wastewater by introducing tap water through faucets and hoses installed in the wastewater collection tank. They were also caught operating so-called empty can filtration facilities without charging filter media such as activated carbon inside the tank during the final filtration stage. The ‘M’ company was also caught installing branch pipes that allowed wastewater generated from wet grinding facilities to be discharged midway without being fully treated.

According to the Water Environment Conservation Act, the Seoul Civil Affairs Unit plans to criminally charge all six business representatives, notify the local district offices to issue administrative orders for the removal of branch pipes, water facilities, and charging of filtration facilities, and impose discharge fees proportional to the period and amount exceeding the discharge standards.

Furthermore, the Seoul Civil Affairs Unit urged the public to actively report if they witness or find any evidence of illegal discharge of wastewater or waste. Seoul City operates a system that rewards up to 200 million KRW under the 'Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Protection and Support for Public Interest Whistleblowers' for those who contribute to public interest by reporting decisive evidence of various illegal acts and criminal activities through various channels such as the ‘Seoul Smart Inconvenience Reporting App,’ ‘Seoul City Website Civil Crime Report Center,’ ‘120 Dasan Call,’ visits, or mail.

Kim Myung-joo, head of the Seoul Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit, said, “We will do our best to eradicate illegal discharge through continuous crackdowns and investigations not only on unauthorized businesses but also on permitted companies that deliberately do not treat wastewater and discharge it illegally.”

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