Boryeong Power Plant Residents: "We Sacrificed for the Nation, but Only Our Health Has Suffered"

Ignoring Calls for Investigation,
Power Plant Installs Dust Cover Only After Petition to Anti-Corruption Commission

The Southern Waste Treatment Plant at Korea Midland Power Boryeong Power Plant has not installed any environmental mitigation facilities such as measures for coal ash dust control, causing 주민들이 to suffer from severely deteriorating health conditions.

"Residents without power or connections have only sacrificed for the country, and yet no one is taking responsibility—we have lost nothing but our health."

Residents living near the Boryeong Power Division of Korea Midland Power, who have endured smoke and dust for decades to ensure the nation’s power supply, have finally voiced their pent-up frustration.

Despite residents’ right to health being seriously violated due to coal ash dust dispersion, both the power plant and the local government have maintained an irresponsible stance.

Jo Jongpil, Secretary General of the Jungang-ro Environmental Development Committee, said, "Korea Midland Power is being urged to halt the shipment of recycled materials from the Southern Waste Treatment Plant and to conduct a joint investigation involving Boryeong City Hall, Korea Midland Power, and the residents." He added, "However, these demands are repeatedly ignored."

Unable to endure any longer, the residents finally submitted a petition to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and other government agencies on the 22nd of last month.

In response, the Boryeong Power Division hastily took action that had been postponed for years. For the first time in 40 years since the plant began operating, a dust protection net (mesh cover) was installed at the Southern Waste Treatment Plant.

Due to this belated response, the trust between the residents and the power plant has already been damaged beyond repair.

Committee Chairman Jo Inwon sighed, "Residents have formed an emergency committee and meet every day to discuss countermeasures, but we are spending each day unable to come up with a clear solution in the face of this giant corporation."

He continued, "It is obvious that the health of residents is deteriorating," and pointed out, "Korea Midland Power should submerge the coal ash in water at the Southern Waste Treatment Plant to reduce the impact of coal ash dust on residents."

At this waste treatment plant, coal ash that has been piled up for decades waiting for off-site shipment is blown into nearby villages due to the absence of dust suppression facilities, causing residents’ health to worsen day by day.

Kang Sinbok, Chair of the Environmental Countermeasures Committee, claimed, "Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals have been detected in the coal ash, and the dispersed dust can accumulate in the human body through the respiratory system, potentially causing chronic toxicity."

An official from the Boryeong Power Division stated, "The commissioned study did not address the residents' claims," and added, "The dust protection net has now been installed."

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