Gyeonggi Province Pushes Semiconductor Industry Regulations Without Confirming Actual Damage or Precision Verification

It has been confirmed that Gyeonggi Province requested stronger regulations on the semiconductor industry from the government without verifying actual damage or assessing long-term water quality impacts resulting from discharged water from SK Hynix's semiconductor facility.

According to Gyeonggi Province and others on the 5th, the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment conducted water quality surveys of the Jukdang Stream on August 26, September 2, and 3 to assess the impact of discharged water from the Icheon SK Hynix facility following the operation of the Yongin SK Hynix semiconductor cluster.

The survey results showed that all nine domestic river water quality standards were met. However, chloride ions and sulfate ions, which lack separate domestic standards, were detected at relatively higher concentrations compared to the nearby Bokha Stream. For semiconductor process water

the average concentration at 0.4 km downstream from the discharge point was 731 mg/L for chloride ions and 1,561 mg/L for sulfate ions. At 1.9 km downstream, the concentrations 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 reports that if irrigation water chloride ion concentration exceeds 355 mg/L, there could 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 actual agricultural water intake points.

Moon Hee-cheon, acting director of the province's Institute of Health and Environment, stated:

"We did not select survey points based on agricultural water intake facilities," adding that "the first survey point 0.4 km from the discharge point was selected because a considerable section downstream from the discharge point is covered, making it a viable sampling location, and the 1.9 km and 7.4 km points were also selected as appropriate locations for investigation along the Jukdang Stream."

Therefore, the impact of the Icheon SK Hynix discharged water on actual agricultural water quality or crops was not confirmed in this survey.

The province itself stated, "We cannot definitively conclude crop damage or unsuitability of agricultural water based solely on this survey." The explanation was that actual impacts must be examined in conjunction with various conditions including crops, soil, irrigation methods, and drainage.

Acting Director Moon also stated regarding damage situations around the Jukdang Stream: "Currently being managed by Icheon City, but regarding continuous civil complaints or problems that I specifically recognize, I am not aware of any occurring."

Long-term water quality impacts remain in the verification stage.

The survey was conducted three times over approximately one week. When asked whether long-term impacts could be assessed by comprehensively considering dilution conditions such as rainfall and river flow at the time of investigation, Acting Director Moon responded: "The results from three surveys cannot be considered as providing all long-term reviews and results for precise evaluation."

Accordingly, the institute plans to accumulate related data monthly and continue monitoring even after the operation of the Yongin semiconductor cluster begins.

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

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

Cha Sung-soo, director of the province's Climate, Environment and Energy Bureau, stated: "Current management standards are integrated project site management standards, which we requested to be strengthened to higher standards," adding that "we also requested the addition of chloride ions and sulfate ions, which are not currently included in the standards, as additional items."

Given that the first Jukdang Stream survey was conducted on August 26, the province had already requested strengthened standards from the government before the survey results announced that day were made public.

Although the province announced this measure as a "water quality measures for semiconductor industry-related discharged water," comparative surveys with other semiconductor facilities have not yet been conducted.

When asked whether comparative analysis of discharged water between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix facilities had been conducted, Acting Director Moon stated: "Currently, we do not yet have specific survey results for Samsung Electronics," adding that "if necessary in the future, we plan to conduct water quality surveys on nearby streams for Samsung Electronics."

The province maintains that this measure is not a post-damage response based on the premise of damage occurrence, but rather preventive management in preparation for the operation of the Yongin semiconductor cluster.

The institute plans to record current water quality of the Hanchen Stream and Gosam Reservoir, where Yongin SK Hynix discharged water 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 for standard strengthening appears to be an extension of Governor Choo Mee-ae's recent efforts to strengthen management of semiconductor discharged water.

In July and August, Governor Choo implemented administrative guidance to minimize process water discharge from the Yongin semiconductor cluster, increase reuse rates, and reduce semiconductor water consumption and wastewater discharge to prevent damage to nearby areas such as Anseong.

Governor Choo at the time "cited examples of global semiconductor companies such as Taiwan's TSMC, stating that companies must increase process water reuse rates and actively engage in wastewater reduction and technology development·investment in water reuse".