사회

New permit applications in Sacheon rose from 147 two years ago to 170 last year and are already near that level this year; the scrapping of road setbacks and grid saturation in the Honam region are drawing developers, and permits must sometimes be granted despite residents' objections

2026.10.30

Society

Nine years into the Naju Lake floating solar dispute, even supporters say "what we first asked for was resident participation"; criteria for judging local acceptance still undisclosed

Opponents say questions about the project were put off until a briefing, supporters say it is now company-led; residents' scope, representation, voting and layout all disputed, with the Electricity Commission's deadline in early December

2026.10.29

Society

As solar projects spread to islands, residents across Tongyeong push back; applications for 1MW-plus generation licences in South Gyeongsang reach 200 this year alone

Villagers on Saryangdo petition against a plan on the hill behind their village, while Sangchon villagers rally at city hall demanding refusals or relocation; city says it cannot refuse lawful applications, and the industry points to a saturated grid in the Jeolla provinces

2026.10.27

Society

Incheon opens citizens' deliberation on 1.54 million m² atop Sudokwon Landfill No. 2 on the 29th, as government solar proposal meets residents' opposition

A 50-member citizen learning session starts a process aimed at a policy recommendation in January 2027; whether the land goes to solar, a park or other uses is still undecided

2026.10.26

Society

Gyeonggi Province drafts 56.5% cut to next year's social and solidarity economy budget, with zero program funding for its Social Economy Center

Budget under the Social Innovation and Economy Bureau falls from 56.7 billion won to 24.7 billion won and programs from 51 to 31; province-funded programs get only half of what was requested; Provincial Council review in November

2026.10.24

Society

Residents and civic groups demand Gunsan's Oseongsan solar plant be scrapped, citing flawed consent process

Residents reaffirm opposition by secret ballot and form emergency committee; nine civic groups call for review and permitting to stop

2026.10.23

Society

Gyeonggi Province moves to abolish its dedicated social economy bureau ahead of Korea's new Social and Solidarity Economy Act

Reorganization plan pre-announced: six offices under the economic vice governor cut to three, and the social economy reduced to a single line in the new economy office's duties

2026.10.22

Society

Hampyeong civic groups' council launches petition for an 8GW renewable energy special zone, aiming for 90% of residents by November 12

Council chair Oh Min-su makes four demands including a special act, a resident-led distributed energy zone, an RE100 national industrial complex and legal guarantees for benefit-sharing; the zone, substation and complex remain an undecided civic proposal

2026.10.22

Society

Incheon civil society again urges Mayor Park Chan-dae to coordinate private offshore wind too, calls for protecting ferry routes to the five West Sea islands

Incheon Peace and Welfare Solidarity statement seeks a standing public-private council where fishers and islanders take part as equals and a "citizen wind income" scheme; over 7GW, including 2GW public and 5GW private, is planned off Incheon while the existing council covers only public projects

2026.10.22

Society

202 Wanju residents hold third hearing in suit to void siting committee decision on Sinjeongeup-Singyeryong power line, with resident-representative makeup at issue

Plaintiffs claim 19 of 30 resident representatives were local councillors who do not live in the area; KEPCO plans to submit photos instead of video of the chair's election; fourth hearing set for Nov. 5

2026.10.22

Society

Buan County sets up Basic Society Center and plans pilot sharing solar revenue with residents from 2027

County calls it the first local government unit dedicated to basic society; idle land in each town to be surveyed for solar sites, with basic income funding targeted by 2030

2026.10.19

Society

Homes in clusters of fewer than five lose setback protection as solar is planned 90m from Gangneung couple's guesthouse

Renewable energy decree in force since September applies setbacks of up to 200m only where there are five or more homes and bars local ordinances from going lower; Gangneung says it cannot regulate by distance, while a Yeonggwang village hit by wind turbine noise is in its fourth year of litigation

2026.10.19

Society

Korea Green Economy Fund social cooperative launched to provide seed loans for citizen solar plants

Founding meeting held in Busan on October 25, 2024, aiming for more than 1,000 members within two years

2024.10.28