Gyeonggi Province Demands Semiconductor Industry Regulations Without Damage Verification or Rigorous Assessment

Gyeonggi Province has been confirmed to have requested the government strengthen regulations related to the semiconductor industry without verifying actual damage from effluent discharged from SK Hynix's semiconductor business site or assessing long-term water quality impacts.

According to Gyeonggi Province and others on the 5th, the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment conducted water quality surveys of Jukdang Stream, into which effluent from Icheon SK Hynix flows, on August 26 and September 2 and 3 to forecast the impact of effluent resulting from the operation of the Yongin SK Hynix semiconductor cluster.

Survey results showed that all 9 domestic river water quality standards were met. However, chloride ions and sulfate ions, for which no separate domestic standards exist, were detected at relatively higher concentrations than in nearby Bokha Stream. For semiconductor wastewater

At 0.4 km downstream of the discharge outlet, the average concentrations were 731 mg/L for chloride ions and 1,561 mg/L for sulfate ions. At 1.9 km downstream, they were 639 mg/L and 1,338 mg/L respectively, and at 7.4 km downstream, 513 mg/L and 1,060 mg/L, with concentrations decreasing further downstream.

The province compared these figures with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines for irrigation water. The FAO states that if chloride ion concentrations in irrigation water exceed 355 mg/L, there may be severe restrictions on sensitive crops, and indicates 0-960 mg/L as the typical range for sulfate ions.

However, this survey was not conducted based on the actual point where agricultural water is drawn.

Moon Hee-cheon, acting director of the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "We did not select survey points based on agricultural water intake facilities," and explained, "The first survey point 0.4 km from the discharge outlet was selected because the downstream section of the discharge outlet is significantly covered, limiting sampling to available locations, and the 1.9 km and 7.4 km points were also selected based on locations suitable for investigation as we moved downstream along Jukdang Stream."

Therefore, the impact of Icheon SK Hynix's effluent on the actual quality of agricultural water or crops was not verified in this survey.

The province also stated, "Based on this survey alone, we cannot definitively conclude crop damage or inadequate agricultural water quality." The explanation was that actual impacts require examination of various conditions including crops, soil, irrigation methods, and drainage.

Moon also responded regarding damage situations around Jukdang Stream by saying, "Currently managed by Icheon City, and regarding any continuous civil complaints or problems that I am accurately aware of, I am not aware of such."

Long-term water quality impacts remain under verification.

This survey was conducted three times over approximately one week. When asked whether long-term impacts could be judged by comprehensively considering precipitation and river flow conditions at the time of the survey, Moon responded, "We cannot conclude that the results from 3 surveys represent all long-term reviews and accurate assessments."

The institute plans to accumulate related data monthly going forward and continue monitoring even after the operation of the Yongin semiconductor cluster.

Nevertheless, the province requested government regulation strengthening before surveys on the actual agricultural water intake points, crop damage, or long-term water quality impacts were conducted.

On August 13, the province formally requested the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to strengthen management standards for Yongin SK Hynix's integrated environmental business site and add chloride ions and sulfate ions—not included in current standards—to management items.

Cha Seong-soo, director of the province's Climate, Environment and Energy Bureau, stated, "The current management standards are for integrated business site management, and we requested strengthening to higher standards," and added, "We are requesting that chloride ions and sulfate ions, which are not included in current standards, be added as additional items."

Considering that the first survey of Jukdang Stream was conducted on August 26, the province had already requested the government strengthen standards before the survey results publicly released on that day were announced.

Although the province announced this measure as a "water quality countermeasure for semiconductor industry effluent," comparative surveys with other semiconductor business sites have not yet been conducted.

When asked whether comparative analysis of effluent between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix business sites has been performed, Moon responded, "Currently, we do not yet have specific survey results for Samsung Electronics," and added, "In the future, if necessary, we plan to conduct water quality surveys on streams near Samsung Electronics."

The province maintains that this measure is preventive management in preparation for the operation of the Yongin semiconductor cluster rather than a post-damage response premised on damage occurrence.

The institute plans to record current water quality in Hancheong Stream and Gosam Reservoir, into which Yongin SK Hynix effluent is expected to flow, compare future water quality changes after factory operation, and accumulate long-term data on chloride ions and sulfate ions.

Meanwhile, this request to strengthen standards appears to be an extension of the stronger water quality management for semiconductor effluent that Governor Choo Mi-ae has recently been pursuing.

Governor Choo implemented administrative guidance in July and August to minimize process water discharge from the Yongin semiconductor cluster and reduce wastewater discharge, citing increased reuse rates and prevention of damage to nearby areas including Anseong.

At the time, Governor Choo "referenced cases of global semiconductor companies such as Taiwan's TSMC and stated that companies should actively undertake efforts in increasing process water reuse rates and developing and investing in wastewater reduction and reuse technologies."