Yongin semiconductor complex LNG plant could cause over 1,100 premature deaths: Greenpeace

A stark warning has emerged from international environmental group Greenpeace regarding the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant in Yongin's semiconductor industrial complex. Their latest report, "The Price of Permitted Pollution, The Invisible Bill: Analysis of PM2.5 Health Impacts of the Yongin LNG Power Plant and Limitations of Environmental Impact Assessment," projects a grim future for the region and its surroundings. The study estimates that the plant, designed to power SK Hynix's facilities, could lead to between 421 and 1,161 premature deaths over three decades due to fine dust (PM2.5) emissions.

What is particularly alarming is that the majority of these projected fatalities—over 70%—are expected to occur outside Yongin city itself. This finding underscores a critical flaw in the current environmental assessment framework, which often focuses on localized impacts within a limited radius. Greenpeace utilized a more expansive atmospheric diffusion model, the InMAP developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to account for secondary particulate matter formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere and the long-range transport of pollutants. This broader scope reveals that the health consequences of such industrial projects extend far beyond the immediate vicinity, affecting neighboring provinces and communities.

Greenpeace's research also points to significant increases in chronic illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, and cerebrovascular and ischemic heart diseases. The associated social costs, calculated using both domestic and OECD standards, are substantial, running into billions of won annually. The report's findings challenge the adequacy of current environmental regulations, particularly the "permit first, assess later" approach that has already granted operational permits for the Yongin plant. The environmental group is pursuing legal action, arguing that this process violates citizens' constitutional rights to a healthy environment and public health. They are urging for an immediate halt and comprehensive review of the Yongin LNG plant project, advocating for a shift towards renewable energy sources and a more rigorous, wide-ranging health impact assessment process.