[Interview] Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, "The Decision on the New Incineration Plant Should Rightly Be Withdrawn"

Nanjido, Thermal Power Plant, Incineration Plant, Hydrogen Power Plant... No More Hazardous Facilities Threatening Residents' Safety... District Mayor Park Declares, "I Will Devote Myself to Uniting All Mapo Residents to Achieve Withdrawal Decision"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Nanjido, Seoul Thermal Power Plant, existing incinerators. Even hydrogen charging stations and hydrogen fuel cell power plants... Mapo already hosts numerous facilities that all other regions and residents avoid, dangerous facilities. Nevertheless, Seoul City's decision to build an additional incinerator in Mapo not only greatly violates the fairness in the distribution of undesirable facilities among regions but can only be seen as a complete disregard for the residents of Mapo-gu.”

In an interview with this publication, Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, expressed deep regret and serious concerns about Seoul City's administration, which lacks fairness and equity, and insisted that the site selection for the metropolitan resource recovery facility should be withdrawn.

Seoul City announced the site selection for the metropolitan resource recovery facility on the 31st of last month. On August 17th, Mapo-gu submitted an opinion to Seoul City regarding the resource recovery facility installation agreement (draft), requesting that “autonomous districts with existing facilities be excluded from site selection.”

However, Seoul City completely ignored Mapo-gu’s opinion, which reflected the will of local residents, and announced the results without prior consultation. Upon receiving the sudden news, Mayor Park immediately issued a special statement that same afternoon, urging the complete cancellation of the new metropolitan resource recovery facility and strongly protesting Seoul City's actions that disregarded the long-standing sacrifices of Mapo residents.

About 300 Mapo residents opposing the metropolitan resource recovery facility site selection gathered at the announcement venue. They expressed the pent-up frustration of residents who could no longer remain silent against Seoul City's unilateral policy push without any consultation. The residents have silently endured the pain and inconvenience for a long time. This was not just for the benefit of Mapo-gu but for the welfare improvement of all Seoul citizens.

Due to the Seoul Combined Thermal Power Plant, completed in 1930 under the name “Danginri Power Plant,” residents suffered from dust and fallout for many years. In 1968, 443 residents became displaced when Bamseom Island was demolished for the development of Yeouido and the Han River. At Nanjido, approximately 80 million tons of garbage discarded by Seoul and Gyeonggi residents have been buried since 1978 for about 15 years.

Mayor Park said, “Despite being the sacrificial victim of policies that all regions and residents avoid and oppose, we have not received any proper compensation,” and raised his voice, saying, “The neglected history of Mapo continues not only with existing incinerators but also with the Seoul Thermal Power Plant, hydrogen charging stations, and hydrogen fuel cell power plants.”

At the existing incinerator (Mapo Resource Recovery Facility), 750 tons of waste are incinerated daily since 2005. Currently, Seoul has four metropolitan resource recovery facilities (Gangnam, Nowon, Mapo, Yangcheon), and except for Eunpyeong-gu, which has a standalone incinerator, 20 out of 25 autonomous districts do not have incinerators. Including food waste treatment facilities and sewage treatment facilities, there are 15 districts with no undesirable facilities at all.

Mayor Park emphasized, “Seoul City is not preparing fundamental waste treatment measures, and planning to build a new metropolitan resource recovery facility in Mapo-gu is absolutely against the fairness of distributing undesirable facilities among regions and forces greater sacrifices only on Mapo residents.”

Seoul City plans to close the current incinerator by 2035 and build a new underground incinerator on the same site by 2026. They claim this is not creating a new incinerator but increasing capacity and removing existing facilities.

However, according to the city’s plan, the existing incinerator in Mapo-gu will operate for several years while construction of the new incinerator facility proceeds. This means two incinerators will be operating simultaneously in Mapo-gu for about nine years.

Mayor Park pointed out, “If two incinerators operate for about nine years until the existing facility is closed, residents will be exposed to harmful emissions from incineration, risks of traffic accidents due to large truck movements, dust, noise, and traffic congestion,” and criticized, “Seoul City overlooks these serious issues even though it is obvious that the area and residents will suffer great damage and confusion.”

On the day of Seoul City’s announcement, Mapo-gu immediately formed a “TF for the Withdrawal of Seoul Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility Site Selection.” A legal support team was also formed to examine whether there are any problems with the site selection process, and plans are underway to promote procedures allowing local residents to participate in verifying the accuracy and transparency of the automatic harmful substance measurement devices at the currently operating incinerator.

Mayor Park said, “Building another incinerator in Mapo threatens the lives and safety of all Mapo residents beyond Sangam-dong,” and added, “This issue transcends political affiliations or ideological lines; all Mapo residents must unite and respond strongly, so active and sincere cooperation from the Seoul Metropolitan Council and council members representing the region is necessary.”

Accordingly, on the 7th, the district directly delivered a “Request Letter for Cooperation to Withdraw Metropolitan Resource Recovery Facility Site Selection” to the Seoul Metropolitan Council and council members. The letter stated, “Seoul City’s decision is unfair, violating regional equity, unilaterally carried out without prior consultation or opinion gathering with the district, and is an arbitrary decision. We strongly oppose this decision and urge its withdrawal,” and requested “active cooperation and support from the Seoul Metropolitan Council and council members.”

They reiterated Mapo-gu’s position strongly urging the complete cancellation and withdrawal of the unfair and unjust Seoul metropolitan resource recovery facility site candidate selection.

Mayor Park emphasized again, “Seoul City promises to demolish existing facilities by 2035, build a 100 billion KRW resident convenience facility, and establish a fund worth 10 billion KRW annually,” but added, “These are all stories for the distant future, and to protect the lives and safety of Mapo residents now, the current decision must be withdrawn.”

Public opposition among residents is also fierce. Residents opposing the additional incinerator construction in Mapo voluntarily formed the “Mapo-gu Incinerator Installation Opposition Struggle Committee.”

Since the day after Seoul City’s announcement, on the 1st of this month, they have been conducting a “law-abiding struggle” by inspecting all garbage delivery vehicles at the Mapo Resource Recovery Facility and suspending entry for vehicles that bring garbage violating regulations. Candlelight cultural festivals and picket protests are also ongoing.

Mayor Park said, “The voices of residents should be reflected in administration, but this decision did not include residents’ voices at all, which is wrong,” and stated, “I and Mapo-gu will devote ourselves to leading the withdrawal of the site selection in accordance with residents’ wishes and preparing countermeasures.”

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