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🇰🇷 South Korea /Environment & Climate

Environmental Groups Demand Halt to Saemangeum Road Project Over Habitat Destruction

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Environmental groups are protesting a new road construction project in Saemangeum, South Korea, citing destruction of protected species habitats.
  • They claim the road cuts through critical habitats for endangered birds like the Black-faced Spoonbill and Oriental Stork.
  • Activists are demanding the project's halt and a review of alternative routes, accusing authorities of shirking responsibility.

Environmental organizations are demanding an immediate halt to the construction of an internal connecting road in Saemangeum, South Korea, arguing that the project is destroying critical habitats for legally protected species and represents a waste of public funds. The Saemangeum Permanent Sea Exchange Movement Headquarters stated that the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency is pushing forward with the road, which passes through the core habitats of endangered species.

The Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency is pushing forward with the construction of an internal connecting road that passes through the core habitats of legally protected species.

— Saemangeum Permanent Sea Exchange Movement HeadquartersStating their primary objection to the road construction project.

The Saemangeum Citizen Ecology Survey Team reported observing nine Oriental Storks, 23 Black-faced Spoonbills, and four Far Eastern Curlews, all classified as endangered, along with various other birds like Black-tailed Gulls and Great Cormorants at the construction site. The team claims that when they requested site inspections from the Jeonbuk Regional Environmental Agency and the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency, both bodies deferred responsibility, refusing to visit the site.

According to the survey team, the Environmental Agency directed them to confirm the Development Agency's stance first, while the Development Agency stated that issues concerning protected species habitats fall under the Ministry of Environment's purview. The environmental groups assert that this demonstrates a clear evasion of administrative responsibility, especially since the landfilling for the temporary embankment (Gatoje) was reportedly halted temporarily after construction workers were informed of the protected species' presence.

Both bodies deferred responsibility, refusing to visit the site.

— Saemangeum Citizen Ecology Survey TeamDescribing the response from environmental and development agencies when asked for site inspections.

The movement headquarters emphasized that the Jusangcheon estuary, where the road is being built, is a vital wetland and a wintering ground for White-tailed Eagles, serving as a crucial ecological space for species like Oriental Storks and Black-faced Spoonbills. They argue that an alternative route utilizing the outer road of the former Jamboree site would not significantly impede the project and are calling for a complete reassessment of the project plan, including the environmental impact assessment.

Pushing forward with a project that first damages habitats and then considers post-hoc measures shows a disregard for the environment.

— Movement Headquarters OfficialCriticizing the project's approach to environmental concerns.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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