South Korean civic groups oppose dam expansion for semiconductor water, propose wastewater reuse

Civic groups in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region are raising objections to the government's proposal to expand the Dongbok Dam, a plan aimed at securing water for a new semiconductor industrial complex in the southwestern region. Instead of expanding the dam, which serves as a drinking water source, these groups advocate for a comprehensive approach to reusing treated wastewater.

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The supply of water for the semiconductor industry should be discussed in the direction of 100% reuse of treated wastewater, instead of the Dongbok Dam expansion, which entails enormous costs and environmental and social conflicts.

The coalition, including the Gwangju Civic Group Federation, Gwangju Environmental Council, and the unified Jeonnam-Gwangju chapter of the Justice Party, held a press conference to present their alternative. They argue that the dam expansion, estimated to cost over 1 trillion won (approximately $750 million USD) including construction and land compensation, would lead to significant environmental and social disruptions, such as regional submersion and resident displacement.

Furthermore, the groups question the long-term stability of relying solely on dam expansion for water supply, especially in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and droughts due to climate change. They urge the government to thoroughly investigate the feasibility of maximizing the use of treated wastewater as the primary water source for the semiconductor industry, rather than a supplementary measure.

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The government should first verify whether treated wastewater can be utilized as the core water source for semiconductor water, rather than just partially utilizing it.

The civic organizations also stressed the importance of economic and sustainability comparisons between the two options. They propose an objective analysis to determine whether expanding the Dongbok Dam, a costly project involving a drinking water source, or reusing treated wastewater through existing facilities is more economically viable and sustainable. They also called for prioritizing resident consent and social consensus over project speed, especially when large-scale water projects impact local communities.

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If the local community has to be sacrificed for the semiconductor industrial complex, resident consent and social consensus must be guaranteed before the speed of the project.