Kim Oksu, Gwangju Seo-gu Councilor, "Fair Selection of Waste Incineration Plant Location"

Published 16 Jul.2024 16:12(KST)

Kim Oksu, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, urged on the 16th during the 5-minute free speech session of the 324th extraordinary meeting of the Seo-gu Council to "conduct the selection of the waste incineration plant location transparently and fairly."

Kim Oksu, Gwangju Seo-gu Councilor, "Fair Selection of Waste Incineration Plant Location"

Councilor Kim pointed out, "The issue of selecting the location for the resource recovery facility (waste incineration plant), which has been controversial, was recently completely canceled through a meeting with the Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City. This is a prime example of bad administration that only caused unnecessary disputes and ended."

Councilor Kim explained, "A serious matter involving citizens' health rights related to the installation of mandatory facilities already stipulated by regulations was pushed forward by a small group behind closed doors but was halted." Regarding the conclusion of the Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, he said, "Seo-gu must have the Grade 1 development restriction zone lifted by the Environmental Agency, Buk-gu faces difficulties in relocating transmission towers, and Gwangsan-gu has not met the required resident consent rate. These issues must be resolved before reconsideration can take place." He also stated, "The Mayor of Gwangju shifted the responsibility for poor administration to district mayors by saying that if more than one candidate site is recommended by the five autonomous districts in the future, he will designate one."

Councilor Kim explained the opposition protests by residents of Seochang-dong and the formation of the Emergency Countermeasure Committee against the monthly waste incineration plant, saying, "Their claims are not a blind opposition (NIMBY) to a necessary facility but a protest against closed-door administration and unfair selection."