Paldang-Area Organic Farmers Sue Governor Kim Moon-soo Over Distorted Organic Farming Promotion

On the 27th, organic farmers from the Paldang area filed a complaint with the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office against Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, claiming that promotional materials and cartoons he produced and distributed—stating that organic farming generates carcinogens and negatively affects water quality—have caused serious damage to their reputation.

Yoo Young-hoon, chair of the Paldang Life-Saving Association, submitted a complaint to prosecutors stating that Governor Kim used promotional materials, web cartoons, and other resources in July, including materials titled "Understanding the Han River Restoration Project" and "Paldang Lake Isn't a Toilet," to spread distorted promotions claiming that organic farming generates carcinogens and negatively affects water quality.

On July 9th, the province held a briefing on the Four Major Rivers Project for approximately 200 residents at Daemyeong Condo in Yangpyeong-eup and distributed a 22-page promotional pamphlet as part of the Han River restoration initiative. According to Chairman Yoo, this pamphlet illustrated the carcinogen generation process with the sequence: "Organic farming (compost) → Waterway discharge (10-33%) → Increased nitrogen and phosphorus → Carcinogen generation."

Additionally, on July 14th, flyers titled "Even if It's Organic, It's Harmful to Drinking Water" were posted at Yangseomyeon offices in Yangpyeong County. These materials displayed vinyl greenhouse scenes from Songchon-ri and Jinjung-ri in Joaan-myeon, Namyangju City, and Yangsu-ri in Yangseomyeon, Yangpyeong County, explaining that organic compost containing nitrogen and phosphorus causes algal blooms that contaminate water when farming takes place within the Paldang water source area.

Furthermore, beginning July 14th, the province posted a web cartoon titled "Paldang Lake Isn't a Toilet" on Gyeonggi Province's policy portal, Gnews. According to the complaint, this cartoon depicts young men and women driving around Paldang Lake being disturbed by the odor and stench from nearby organic farms, and includes content claiming that organic farm compost seeps into Paldang Lake, creating unpleasant odors and polluting water quality.

Chairman Yoo stated in relation to this, "It appears that Gyeonggi Province is intentionally distorting and promoting organic farming as a pretext to suppress concerns raised by Paldang organic farmers and consumers regarding the impropriety of the Han River restoration project."

Chairman Yoo added, "The claim that organic farming generates carcinogens deviates from the universal common sense of the general public and contradicts social consensus," and "The assertion that organic farming generates carcinogens and negatively affects water quality has never been mentioned in academic circles, agricultural sectors, or environmental fields."

Seo Gyu-seop, a member of the Paldang Water Source Joint Response Committee for preserving farmland and promoting eco-friendly agriculture, held a press conference in the Gyeonggi Province Council briefing room that morning, stating, "Due to this promotion distorting organic farming, the reputation of farmers engaged in eco-friendly agriculture and consumers who trusted and purchased their products has been seriously damaged, which led to this complaint."