[The Hwankyung Ilbo] Representative Shin Chang-hyun of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed on November 27 a partial revision of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act that calls for criminal punishment if the agreement of environmental impact assessment is not implemented.

Under the current law, the Ministry of Environment orders the implementation if the operator does not implement the anti-pollution measures presented in the environmental impact assessment, and if it still fails to do so, a fine of up to 50 million won is imposed.

However, there are frequent cases of non-implementation because fines cost less than pollution prevention facilities.

The revision toughened the penalty rules with up to three years in prison or 30 million won in fines. “The environmental impact assessment system has the dishonor of being an indulgence in environmental destruction because of the weak punishment,” said Rep. Shin Chang-hyun. He added, “We hope that the proposed amendment will help strengthen the effectiveness of the environmental impact assessment.”

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