Why the Controversy Over THAAD Environmental Assessment?..."Moon Government Ignored" vs "Procedures Followed"

Environmental Assessment Took 6 Years... "Who Delayed It Must Be Revealed"
Ruling Party "Catering to China" vs Opposition "Whitewashing Contaminated Water"

Recently, controversy has continued regarding the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Environment's disclosure of the environmental impact assessment results for the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in Seongju, Gyeongbuk.

In July 2017, during the Moon Jae-in administration, the Ministry of National Defense conducted a small-scale environmental impact assessment for the THAAD base and planned to carry out a general environmental impact assessment afterward. The small-scale assessment was announced in August of the same year, but the general environmental impact assessment was only completed six years later.

The People Power Party raised suspicions that the Moon Jae-in administration deliberately delayed the environmental impact assessment of the THAAD base in Gyeongbuk. According to a review of actual measurement data from the Air Force and the Korea Radio Promotion Association on the 21st, the maximum electromagnetic wave measurement was 0.018870 W/㎡, which is only 1/530 (0.189%) of the human protection standard (10 W/㎡). They claim that pressure was applied to delay the announcement of the environmental impact assessment results stating 'no problem.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, attended the 'THAAD Base Environmental Impact Assessment Report Meeting' held at Seongju County Office, Gyeongbuk, on the 26th of last month, stating, "It appears that the Moon Jae-in administration only pretended to conduct the general environmental impact assessment but actually did not proceed and obstructed it." He added, "Holding the authority of central government ministries, the Moon administration seemed to have sacrificed local residents while trying to appease China."

Park Dae-chul, chairman of the People Power Party's Policy Committee, also said at the party's floor meeting on the 27th of last month, "Looking back at the progress regarding THAAD electromagnetic waves, we cannot help but ask why it was dragged out and stalled for five years and who was responsible for stalling." He insisted, "The Moon administration knew through electromagnetic wave measurements that the waves were harmless to humans but kept it quiet. We need to clarify why the environmental impact assessment was stalled despite promises to conduct it and who was responsible."

In response, Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, countered that the environmental impact assessment was conducted according to legal procedures and accused the ruling party of nitpicking. He explained that the delay was due to the U.S. Forces Korea not submitting the project plan for two years and difficulties in forming a consultative body for the environmental impact assessment due to opposition from Seongju residents.

On the 28th of last month, Yoon said on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," "People say the environmental impact assessment was stalled, but the key point is whether the THAAD system operated normally." He emphasized, "What is clear is that over the past five years, the THAAD system operated normally during the Moon Jae-in administration in response to North Korea's missile provocations."

He further claimed that the ruling party's offensive was an attempt to divert attention by linking it to the 'discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.' Yoon pointed out, "The essence of this issue is that the THAAD system is functioning well, but they are picking crude fights over the delayed environmental impact assessment to divert attention to the nuclear wastewater discharge."

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