Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Union: "Saemangeum Committee is a Regressive Step, Complete Restructuring Needed"

On the 27th, the Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Union issued a statement strongly condemning the composition of the 9th Saemangeum Committee announced by the government and called for a complete restructuring of the committee.

The union criticized the current composition of the committee as a direct contradiction to President Moon Jae-in's promise of a "new start for Saemangeum." The President had defined the long-standing delay in the Saemangeum project as a form of "torture of hope" and pledged to move away from civil engineering-centered development towards continuous seawater circulation, ecological restoration, and transitioning to a carbon-neutral hub based on RE100.

However, the organization stated, "The composition of the 9th Saemangeum Committee is a regression to the past that undermines the President's determination," and pointed out that it is "another deception to the Jeonbuk residents who have longed for a sustainable Saemangeum."

In particular, the reappointment of Kim Hong-guk, the chairman of Harim Group, as co-chairman was strongly criticized. The Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Union claimed that "Chairman Kim has ignored demands for dialogue with civil society and fishermen during his previous term, and has only dealt with matters through written deliberations without face-to-face meetings," asserting that he is a symbol of inefficiency and opaque administration.

Moreover, with Harim Group owning major domestic shipping company Pan Ocean and actively promoting Saemangeum as a core project for developing Sinhang Port and a smart logistics hub, the organization emphasized that "having a chairman who decides on the project being a potential beneficiary of the conglomerate's head clearly indicates a conflict of interest."

The Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Union proposed measures for Saemangeum governance innovation, including the introduction of a private sector-recommended committee system where more than 40% of the members are recommended by local governments, local councils, and civic organizations, and mandatory participation of local residents and fishermen. They also suggested institutionalizing joint public-private working groups for pre-negotiation on contentious issues such as seawater circulation and land allocation, mandatory face-to-face meetings at least four times a year, real-time public access to meetings, and full disclosure of meeting records and minutes.

The organization warned, "If the committee, filled with conglomerate chairmen and revolving-door experts, deteriorates into a behemoth that devours the President's reform will, Saemangeum will once again face 30 years of 'hope torture'," and urged the government to immediately restructure the committee and for co-chairman Kim Hong-guk to resign.

On the same day, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is the chairman of the 9th Saemangeum Committee, appointed 15 civilian members to the committee.

Among the newly appointed members, there are a total of 11 individuals including Kwak Ji-hye, Director of the Solar Energy Research Division at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, Kwon Bong-oh, a professor at the National University of Gunsan, Kim Ji-hyun, Director of Business Planning at the Korea Food Cluster Promotion Institute, Kim Chang-gil, Visiting Scholar at the Asia Research Institute of Seoul National University, Bae Han-sol, CEO of Viva Nature Co., Baek Ki-tae, a professor at Jeonbuk University, Lee Jae-hyuk, a research fellow at the Korea Environment Institute, Lee Chang-won, Director of the Entrepreneurship Support Team at Woosuk University, Im Mi-hwa, a professor at Jeonju University, Im Da-yeon, a professor at the National Maritime University of Mokpo, and Cho Yong-hyun, a professor at Sejong University.

Among the 8th committee members, four individuals were reappointed, including Lee Sang-ho, Vice President of Yoochang E&C, Lee Seung-woo, Chairman of the Saemangeum New Renewable Energy Forum, Kim Hyun-ah, Director of the Fiscal Research Division at the Korea Institute of Public Finance, and Choi Jung-hyun, a professor at Ewha Womans University.