DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Environment Minister Publicly Accused by Activists on Environment Day

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Environmental groups publicly accused the Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment, Kim Sung-hwan, of neglecting environmental policies on Environment Day.
  • They criticized the ministry for prioritizing energy and industrial development over environmental protection, citing issues like new nuclear power plants and airport projects.
  • The groups plan to file a formal complaint with the prosecution next week, demanding accountability for the minister's alleged dereliction of duty.

On Environment Day, environmental organizations publicly denounced Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment Kim Sung-hwan, accusing him of neglecting the nation's environmental policies. Gathered at a park in Seoul, representatives from various groups, including the Korea Environmental Council and the 4 Rivers Restoration Network, held a press conference to "normalize collapsed environmental administration" and formally "accuse Minister Kim Sung-hwan."

The groups contend that the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment has devolved into an agency that supports development projects, particularly those related to energy and industry. They argue that the ministry has abandoned its role as a protector of the environment, failing to adequately address contentious issues such as the construction of new nuclear power plants and airports. This shift, they claim, prioritizes economic development at the expense of ecological preservation.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment has become a support agency for development projects. It is the last bastion for protecting the public's environmental rights, and Minister Kim Sung-hwan is responsible for upholding the principles of environmental conservation.

— Jung Gyu-seokOperator for the Korea Environmental Council criticizing the ministry's priorities.

"The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment has become a support agency for development projects," stated Jung Gyu-seok, an operator for the Korea Environmental Council. "It is the last bastion for protecting the public's environmental rights, and Minister Kim Sung-hwan is responsible for upholding the principles of environmental conservation."

Further criticism came from Jung In-cheol of the Save Seoraksan National Park Citizens' Action, who pointed to the controversial Osaek Cable Car project. Despite initial hopes that the new administration would halt the development, which environmentalists deem disruptive to biodiversity, the project is proceeding despite numerous environmental impact assessment concerns. The groups announced their intention to file a formal complaint with the prosecution next week, seeking to hold Minister Kim accountable for his alleged "dereliction of duty and damage to environmental administration."

Minister Kim Sung-hwan should take responsibility and resign.

— Jung In-cheolSave Seoraksan National Park Citizens' Action representative calling for the minister's resignation over the Osaek Cable Car project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog