Hundreds of billions of won divided Taean... only conflict remains in the village

In the village of Igok 2-ri in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, the arrival of a power plant did not bring prosperity but instead sowed deep discord among residents. Kim Yong-rok, the village head, laments that the loss of community spirit is more damaging than any environmental pollution. While many believed the power plant's closure would ruin Taean, Kim argues that the plant's financial contributions, intended as compensation for environmental impact, have instead eroded the community's social fabric.

Over three decades ago, when the power plant was built, Kim, then a young leader, vehemently opposed it, fearing environmental destruction. However, the plant offered compensation, distributed piecemeal, which he believes fundamentally altered residents' humanity. He notes that these funds, while significant, did not substantially improve individual lives, as they were distributed collectively rather than personally.

“

When the power plant was built, I opposed it the most due to environmental concerns, but now I realize that losing the community's spirit is more tangible than fine dust or pollution.

Taean has received at least 300 billion won in support from coal-fired power plants under the 'Act on Support for Surrounding Areas of Power Generation Facilities.' This includes 195.7 billion won from 1991 to 2016 and an estimated 41.4 billion won from 2017 to 2026. Additionally, Korea Western Power has contributed 73.4 billion won in donations over the past decade.

These funds are designated for collective use, such as purchasing farming equipment or improving infrastructure. However, this system has created new conflicts. For instance, newly arrived residents often face discrimination when trying to access shared equipment. Furthermore, instances of agricultural machinery being resold to villagers at half price have become a common practice, bypassing official approval processes and leading to disputes. These issues have prompted investigations by the county office and the police, highlighting a systemic failure to monitor the actual use of these development funds.

“

They give us compensation like candy, but they don't give it all at once. This structure makes people lose their humanity. And this money doesn't significantly help residents' lives because it's not given out individually.