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Photo = Youngpoong |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Prosecutors have demanded prison sentences in the appellate trial of former and current executives of Youngpoong Corp.’s (000670) Sukpo Smelter, who were indicted for discharging cadmium-contaminated wastewater into the Nakdong River, a major source of drinking water for residents in the Yeongnam region.
According to legal sources on June 3, during the appellate hearing held on June 2 at the Daegu High Court (Criminal Division 1, Chief Judge Jung Sung-wook), prosecutors sought prison terms ranging from one to five years for seven former and current executives, including former CEO Lee Kang-in (74). The prosecution also requested a fine of KRW 30 million against Youngpoong Corp.
The executives stand accused of repeatedly discharging cadmium-laden wastewater into the public waters of the Nakdong River more than 1,000 times over a five-year period until May 2021, in violation of environmental protection laws. They are also charged with contaminating approximately 27.7 million liters of groundwater with heavy metals between November 2019 and October 2020.
In addition, prosecutors argued that the company’s head of operations and an employee in charge of soil remediation conspired to underreport the scale of soil contamination to local authorities. They are accused of submitting a falsified report stating the contaminated soil volume as 307,087㎥, only 43% of the actual 719,286㎥, thereby avoiding full remediation orders—grounds for charges of obstruction of official duties through deceit.
The appellate verdict is scheduled for July 17. The lower court had acquitted the defendants, citing insufficient evidence to prove criminal intent. In response, prosecutors amended the charges in the appeal to include professional negligence, citing confirmed instances of cadmium discharge, which the court accepted.
Industry observers are closely watching the outcome of this appeal, as it may serve as a precedent for determining the legal accountability of corporate executives in environmental pollution cases.
The Sukpo Smelter has faced repeated criticism from local communities over its environmental violations. The county of Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province, had ordered soil remediation for its Plants 1 and 2 by the end of June. However, with compliance rates at only 16% and 1.2%, respectively, local authorities have indicated plans to pursue criminal charges.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
