BUSAN — The long-running dispute over a medical waste incinerator in the Jeonggwan area of Gijang County, one of the district's most contentious issues, has moved toward resolution after 15 years.
Gijang County said on the 24th that it signed a memorandum of understanding with NC Medi at the Busan Metropolitan Council to relocate the medical waste incinerator to a non-residential area. Residents of Jeonggwan, a district densely packed with apartment complexes and schools, had long voiced concerns about odors and hazardous emissions from the incinerator. The company's formal commitment to move the facility marks a breakthrough in easing those worries.
The core of the agreement is that NC Medi will identify and secure the relocation site itself and bear the cost of the move. Officials said the arrangement goes beyond merely considering relocation, with the company taking on real responsibility for the move, giving the effort genuine momentum.
NC Medi will search for a new site in a non-residential area that meets relevant laws and environmental standards, and will pursue a prompt relocation. The county said it plans to actively support administrative procedures such as permits and licensing, on the premise of resident consent and lawful process.
Until the move is complete, environmental oversight of the current facility will also be strengthened. The plan is to minimize any inconvenience to residents that could arise during operation of the incinerator and to ensure thorough environmental and safety management.
Residents of Jeonggwan have held dozens of rallies and filed complaints demanding that the facility be relocated or shut down. Concerns lingered for years, in part because the facility sits in an area densely packed with homes and schools, and because of worries about hazardous emissions tied to its aging equipment.
The county had repeatedly pressed NC Medi to resolve the issue. The company decided to relocate in order to address resident concerns and coexist with the local community, and the agreement formalizes that decision.
Through the deal, the county expects to resolve long-standing resident complaints and secure a safe living environment without bearing the cost of the move.
Gijang County Mayor Woo Sung-bin said the county had persuaded the company over a long period to reach the agreement, and that NC Medi, after its own review, made the decision out of a shared commitment to corporate values of coexisting with residents. The mayor called it a meaningful first step toward putting residents' safety first.
