"Misrepresentation by Kwon Ik Wi, Cadmium Claims Also False"... Yeongpung Directly Refutes Seokpo Smelter Allegations

[Financial News] Yeongpung has directly refuted the environmental groups' claims of heavy metal pollution surrounding the Seokpo Smelter. They pointed out that the National Rights Commission's simple expression of opinion was misrepresented as a legal judgment, emphasizing that the environmental group's claims differ from the facts.
Yeongpung stated in a position paper on the 11th that "a complainant presumed to be affiliated with an environmental group filed a grievance with the Kwon Ik Wi in March, but the Kwon Ik Wi only provided a basic and theoretical level opinion," clarifying that no legally binding conclusion was reached.
They further rebutted, "Claiming that the Seokpo Smelter is the main culprit of heavy metal pollution in the Nakdong River based on this is enough to cause misunderstanding that the Kwon Ik Wi was used as a pretext for a press conference."
Yeongpung maintains the position that the Seokpo Smelter, established under government initiative in the 1970s, has continuously made efforts to protect the environment in response to strengthened environmental standards and social expectations.
In particular, they have introduced a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system to purify all wastewater and recycle it 100%, and have implemented facilities to block contaminated groundwater, fundamentally preventing leakage into the Nakdong River.
Regarding claims of cadmium and other heavy metal detections, they emphasized, "Since the introduction of the ZLD system and the installation of facilities to block contaminated groundwater, cadmium has not been detected in the Nakdong River around the Seokpo Smelter."
They also added, "An official opinion collection process is being operated through a monitoring committee composed of experts, and the Nakdong River Upper Region Environmental Damage Residents' Countermeasure Committee is also participating in this committee," stating that "claims that some groups are ignoring residents' voices are also different from the facts."
Finally, Yeongpung stated, "We will continue to do our best to preserve the environment of the Nakdong River basin based on continuous dialogue and cooperation with the local community."

moving@fnnews.com Lee Dong-hyuk Reporter