Yongin City Reported for Giheung Lake Pollution

Environmental pollution at Giheung Lake in Yongin has been attributed to poor management by Yongin City.

Kwon Oh-jin, a Democratic Party member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly representing Yongin District 5, stated on the 17th: "The environmental pollution of Giheung Lake is due to Yongin City's poor management of apartment sewage," and added, "I will identify and report the administrative officials responsible."

During a press briefing held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly press room on the morning of that day, Assemblyman Kwon said, "During last year's administrative audit, I requested information from Gyeonggi Province on the status of multi-unit residential facilities that directly connected to sewage pipes without sewage treatment facilities." He continued, "I received a response from Gyeonggi Province that there are none within the jurisdiction, but this is not true," and specifically named certain apartment complexes in Yongin City that are directly dumping waste into sewage pipes.

Assemblyman Kwon stated, "During the summer rainy season, rainwater and sewage from these apartment complexes flow together into the sewage pipes. When fecal matter exceeds capacity and cannot enter the Giheung Terminal Treatment Plant, it is discharged into Giheung Lake through manhole covers," pointing to apartment sewage as the cause of lake pollution.

He further stated, "After the completion of the Giheung Terminal Treatment Plant in 2005, Yongin City sent official letters to each apartment complex demanding the closure of septic tanks. This is a clear administrative error, and as a result, the annual dredging cost for Giheung Lake increases by 10 billion won, and the water quality improvement dredging cost will exceed 100 billion won."

Additionally, Assemblyman Kwon announced, "Going forward, I will examine whether Yongin City officials in charge have violated environmental laws and will report them accordingly."