Environment impact review clears way for U.S. missile defense system in Seongju

The THAAD units are deployed in Seongju golf course in 2017. [Photo by Han Joo-hyung]

South Korea’s defense and environment ministries announced Wednesday their completion of consultations on a finalized environmental impact report for a site of the U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in the southeastern county of Seongju, putting an end to more than six years of “electromagnetic wave” myths and removing the biggest barrier to the site’s normalization.

The Ministry of Environment reviewed actual measurements conducted by the Air Force and the Korea Radio Promotion Association and determined that the maximum value of electromagnetic waves measured in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, was only 0.189 percent of the least standard for human protection, indicating a negligible impact on humans and the surrounding environment.

The government involved an independent organization, the Korea Radio Promotion Association, in the environmental impact assessment process, adding credibility to the electromagnetic measurements.

Controversy over the site’s potential electromagnetic radiation intensified even before its temporary deployment in April 2017. Some politicians and civil society organizations spread myths about THAAD electromagnetic radiation that are not based on science.

The announcement of the results of the environmental impact assessment is expected to speed up the normalization of the THAAD site by reducing the controversy over the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves on human health and the environment.

The THAAD unit was temporarily deployed to the then Seongju golf course in April 2017, just before the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration, following a small-scale environmental impact assessment by the Daegu Regional Environment Agency.

Since then, some residents and civil society organizations had raised strong concerns about electromagnetic waves, and the THAAD base has not been normalized for more than six years.

The Moon administration did not push for an environmental impact assessment and the normalization of the THAAD site due to the radiation concerns and local opposition, as well as its relationship with China and its push for a peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

However, President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to normalize the THAAD site during his presidential campaign and has been working on it since he took office. The change was also affected by North Korea’s surge in nuclear and missile demonstrations and heightened threats of provocations.

The government plans to speed up the implementation of 24 resident support projects prepared in consultation with other government organizations for the development of the area surrounding the base and the welfare of residents.

The government plans to finalize measures such as law revisions and budgeting this year to ensure the implementation of the support projects from next year.