[2022 National Audit] 'Proliferation' of Moon Jae-in Government's 'Mountain Solar Power'... 8 out of 10 Sites in Gangwon at 'Landslide Risk'

Moon Administration Changes Mountain Solar Slope Permit from 25° to 15° in Nov 2018
KEI: "Mountain Solar Slopes Over 10° Pose High Risk of Land Loss and Terrain Changes"
Most Permits Exceeding Standards in Jeonnam with 344 Cases, Over 20° Permits Also Found Nationwide

National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee Member Ahn Byung-gil (People Power Party) [Office of Member Ahn Byung-gil]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Amid concerns that mountain solar power projects under the Moon Jae-in administration are threatening public safety, it has been revealed that the average slope of mountain solar power installations in Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do also exceeded the standard limits.

In particular, it was confirmed that 80% of the 'mountain solar power' installations built by cutting into mountains in the Gangwon region over the past four years are exposed to landslide risks.

As the risks of landslides and soil erosion from mountain solar power projects continue to be raised, Gangwon-do has begun inspecting solar power projects due to issues such as the improper operation of farmland solar power facilities and concerns over landslides at mountain solar power sites within the province.

According to data on 'Mountain Solar Power Permit Details and Slope' submitted by the Korea Forest Service to People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Byung-gil of the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee on the 13th, 55% of the facilities exceeded the safety slope of 10 degrees suggested by KEI, and 24% of mountain solar power projects exceeded the standards set by the Moon Jae-in administration.

Among these, 146 mountain solar power sites permitted in Gangwon-do since November 2018 were found not to meet KEI's condition of 'average slope less than 10 degrees' aimed at preventing landslides.

This accounts for 81% of 179 cases excluding five cases under 660㎡ that are exempt from submitting average slope investigation reports out of a total of 184 mountain solar power permits, meaning 8 out of 10 mountain solar power sites carried risks of landslides and soil erosion.

The slope of the solar power site in Hyeoncheon-ri, Dunnae-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, where a landslide occurred due to heavy rain in August causing the death of a resident in their 70s, was also confirmed to be 17.9 degrees, exceeding the government permit standard.

Meanwhile, facilities exceeding the safety slope of 10 degrees suggested by KEI accounted for 55% of the total, and mountain solar power projects exceeding the standards set by the Moon Jae-in administration accounted for 24%.

Looking at the number of mountain solar power permits exceeding slope standards by year: ▲2018 - 351 cases ▲2019 - 470 cases ▲2020 - 53 cases ▲2021 - 10 cases.

By region, the number of permits exceeding slope standards were ▲Jeonnam 344 cases ▲Gyeongbuk 152 cases ▲Gyeongnam 101 cases ▲Jeonbuk 92 cases ▲Gangwon 75 cases ▲Chungnam 58 cases ▲Chungbuk 32 cases ▲Gyeonggi 28 cases ▲Sejong 2 cases, in order of Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk.

The range of exceedance was ▲240 cases exceeding 20 degrees but below 25 degrees ▲644 cases exceeding 15 degrees but below 20 degrees, with more than 28.4% exceeding 20 degrees rather than 15 degrees.

Mountain solar power sites with slopes close to 25 degrees are found nationwide.

In Yeongyang, Gyeongbuk, the slope of mountain solar power was the steepest at 25 degrees. Following were Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi at 24.6 degrees, Jangheung, Jeonnam at 24.5 degrees, and Uiryeong, Gyeongnam at 24.1 degrees, where mountain solar power projects were permitted.

Since the slope standards for mountain solar power were revised in November 2018, a total of 3,879 mountain solar power permits were issued.

Among these, 195 cases with mountain areas under 660㎡ intended for exclusive use were exempt from submitting average slope investigation reports according to the 'Mountain Management Act Enforcement Rules.' The number of cases required to submit slope data was 3,684.

Among the 3,684 permits where slope data was confirmed, 884 cases exceeded the slope standard of 15 degrees set by the enforcement decree. This accounts for 24% of total permits, meaning 1 in 4 mountain solar power projects exceeded the safety slope standard.

Previously, the Moon Jae-in administration announced a plan to revise the Mountain Management Act Enforcement Decree from November 2018, lowering the slope standard for mountain solar power permits from 25 degrees to 15 degrees.

Accordingly, the Korea Environment Institute submitted an opinion to the government through the 'Study on Establishing Guidelines for Environmental Review of Land-based Solar Power Projects' stating that "(for solar power facilities) sites with a maximum slope of 15 degrees should be selected as avoidance areas to prevent landslides and soil erosion."

However, the Moon Jae-in administration applied a more lenient standard at the time, which sparked controversy.

Lawmaker Ahn Byung-gil said, "It has been revealed that even safety standards directly related to public safety were not properly observed amid the irrational solar power frenzy over the past five years," and urged, "The Korea Forest Service should prioritize the value of protecting citizens' lives and conduct a comprehensive review of mountain solar power policies."

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