Daegu Environment Cheong uncovers 6 violations at Seokpo Smelter... Fines imposed and legal action taken
by Gu Daeseon
Published 03 Apr.2023 15:40(KST)
Updated 07 Aug.2025 17:28(KST)
Inadequate Exhaust Hood Equipment
Choi Jong-won, Commissioner, "Strict Facility Management"
On the 3rd, the Daegu Regional Environmental Office conducted a thorough inspection of the integrated environmental permit, groundwater, waste, and other environmental matters at the Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter in Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk, from the 13th to the 17th of last month. As a result, six violations were detected, leading to fines and criminal charges.
The Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter, located in Seokpo-myeon along the Nakdong River, is a facility requiring strict environmental management due to ongoing issues of soil and groundwater contamination, forest dieback, environmental pollution, and health damage to residents.
At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Environment imposed conditions such as facility and process improvements and set stricter emission standards than before when granting the integrated environmental permit. Accordingly, the Daegu Environmental Office conducted this detailed inspection jointly with local governments (Gyeongbuk Province and Bonghwa County) and experts (including the Korea Environment Corporation) to ensure compliance with permit conditions and promote environmental improvements at the facility.
The Daegu Regional Environmental Office focused on checking compliance with integrated environmental permit conditions, proper installation and operation of emission and prevention facilities for air and water quality, waste management, and adherence to environmental laws. As a result, six legal violations were confirmed.
The violations included the absence of hood equipment capable of maximally capturing pollutants at some air emission facilities, neglecting to repair or prevent pollutant leaks caused by corrosion or wear without justifiable reasons, and some prevention facilities being broken or damaged, impairing proper operation and management.
Additionally, regarding water quality, some pollution prevention facilities required to operate continuously under permit conditions were only operated intermittently in certain processes. Regarding waste, failure to install signage in storage warehouses and other non-compliance with waste treatment standards were also identified.
Choi Jong-won, head of the Daegu Regional Environmental Office, stated, “Administrative actions such as corrective orders and fines have been imposed for the six violations identified during the inspection, and criminal charges will be rigorously investigated. We will continue strict facility management across the entire workplace to ensure that the Seokpo Smelter achieves substantial environmental improvements for water quality enhancement in the upper Nakdong River region.”
A Daegu Regional Environmental Office official said, “There are two fines of 2 million won each and one fine of 3 million won. The lack of hood equipment and failure to install waste signage will be reported to the police this week on charges including violations of the Waste Management Act.”
In response, a representative of the Seokpo Smelter said, “Although there were some deficiencies in certain facilities, we plan to manage them more thoroughly and carefully in the future to prevent any problems.”
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