Pal-dang watershed is the only source water for more than 20 million people and industries
in the Seoul-Kyungki metropolitan area. In 1999, some areas surrounding Pal-dang Lake were
designated as protected areas by a special law, not allowing entry of any industry discharging
specified materials such as Cu, Pb, As, and Hg. At that time, D-Electronics Co. did not have any
manufacturing lines and any future plan to have new lines releasing such materials. However, the
recent market environment of the semiconductor industry forced D-Electronics Co. to bring in a
new manufacturing line which will release Cu in effluent. Because of the special law, D-Electronics
Co. proposed a zero discharge system (ZDS) specially targeting removal of Cu and
requested Ministry of Environment (MOE) to approve its expansion plan. But, MOE rejected
the request with reasons such as unexpected accidents, possible illicit operations, absence of
legal basis, and equity among industries. On the contrary, as well as other groups, the Ministry of
Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE), arguing a possible huge contribution of the
expanded plant to national economic growth, demanded MOE to reexamine the reject and to
reconsider it as a special exception. Right now, the case is being reconsidered under the
affirmative atmosphere. Even if conservation is very important, since the source water is for more than 20 million people and many industries, this case illustrates a lesson that water
conservation cannot compete with the demand for economic growth, at least, in Korea. Includes 5 references, tables, figue.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 310 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 11 |
| Published : | 01/11/2004 |
