Environmental Disputes in Gyeonggi Province Surge Threefold Over Past Decade

<Yonhapnews> The number of environmental dispute mediation applications filed with Gyeonggi Province over the past decade has increased more than threefold compared to the total number of applications submitted during the preceding 10-year period.

According to the province on the 8th, since September 2003, when financial case mediation authority—for compensation claims of 100 million won or less—was delegated to the province, a total of 96 environmental dispute cases have been filed with the Gyeonggi Province Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee through the end of last month.

This represents more than a threefold increase compared to the 26 environmental disputes filed with the province from 1992 to 2002, a span of roughly 10 years.

By region, Yongin recorded the highest number with 11 cases, driven by active construction projects including apartment development, followed by Suwon with 10 cases, Seongnam, Goyang, and Bucheon each with 9 cases, Ansan, Siheung, Gunpo, and Paju each with 4 cases, and Gwangju, Uijeongbu, and Yangju each with 3 cases.

The causes of damage were dominated by noise and vibration with 88 cases, followed by air pollution with 4 cases, water pollution with 2 cases, and foul odor and others with 1 case each.

In terms of damage cases, claims for mental health damage were most prevalent with 66 cases, followed by structural damage and mental health damage combined with 24 cases, livestock damage with 4 cases, and agricultural crop damage with 2 cases.

Of the 96 cases, the province processed a total of 88 cases, including 66 cases resolved through mediation, 14 cases through financial determination, 6 cases through voluntary withdrawal, and 2 other cases, with the remaining 8 cases currently under continued mediation.

A provincial official stated, "As the capital region is an area of new development, environmental disputes are increasing due to growing environmental damage such as noise and dust from construction. However, environmental dispute mediation applications have begun to decline this year as the construction market has contracted and cities and counties have stepped up active mediation efforts," the official said.