Icheon Mayor Seong Suseok: “SK hynix Wastewater Discharge Regulations Should Be Carefully Considered”

Taking a comprehensive view of the substances’ properties and environmental impact
Increase water reuse rates and develop reasonable management measures

Icheon Mayor Seong Suseok stated his position on Gyeonggi Province’s call for stronger water quality management of wastewater discharged by SK hynix, saying, “We should take a cautious approach to introducing discharge regulations, taking into comprehensive consideration the properties of the substances and their actual impact on the environment.”

Icheon Mayor Seong Suseok stated his position on water quality management for SK hynix's wastewater discharge. Provided by Icheon City.

This follows press releases issued by Gyeonggi Province on October 5 and 28, which pointed to chloride and sulfate ion concentrations in streams near SK hynix’s outfall and called on semiconductor companies to improve the quality of their discharged wastewater.

Icheon City said that chloride and sulfate ions, for which Gyeonggi Province had proposed establishing discharge standards for wastewater from SK hynix, are substances widely found in nature. It added that no discharge limits for these substances have been set anywhere in the world, and that South Korea has no separate standards for agricultural water. Accordingly, whether to introduce discharge regulations for these substances should be reviewed in light of their properties, their actual impact on the environment, the current water quality management system, and companies’ financial circumstances.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment also reportedly said it has no current plans to establish domestic discharge limits for either substance.

The city also said it had confirmed that the quality of rice grown on nearby farmland using water from Jukdangcheon Stream had no particular issues.

The city plans to pursue both sustainable growth in the semiconductor industry and environmental safety for residents. It will work with relevant agencies to continuously monitor changes in the water quality of Jukdangcheon Stream.

Icheon Mayor Seong Suseok presents the city’s position on water quality management for SK hynix’s wastewater discharge. Photo courtesy of Icheon City.

Mayor Seong said, “Taking into account the intent of Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae’s administrative guidance on the need to manage chloride and sulfate ions, we will work with SK hynix to increase water reuse rates and develop reasonable water quality management measures.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.