– Residents of Yeongmin Village in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, have faced decades of hardship due to odors from legalized pig farming.

– Through ACRC mediation, a final agreement has been reached, bringing a resolution to the enduring conflict.

 (July 3, 2024, ACRC)

Residents of Yeongmin Village, a Hansen’s disease settlement in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, have long suffered from the overwhelming odors caused by nearby pig farming operations. Thanks to the efforts of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan), their plight is now on the path to resolution.

On July 3 at 2 PM, the ACRC held an on-site mediation meeting in the second-floor conference room of the Yeonggwang County Office. The session, chaired by Chairperson Rye Chul Whan, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives of the village residents, the deputy governor of Yeonggwang-gun, the chairman of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju Maintenance Foundation, and local livestock business owners. The meeting successfully resolved a collective complaint filed by the residents, addressing the odor problem stemming from pig farms operating in the village.

Yeongmin Village was established around 1974 with the assistance of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju, providing a safe haven for Hansen’s disease patients who had been isolated by government policies and societal discrimination, or who had been discharged from the National Sorokdo Hospital.

Over time, the aging population, now averaging 80 years old, has ceased livestock farming and largely depends on government support for survival.

Although the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju has generously provided free land leases to the residents and Yeonggwang-gun has built housing for them, the situation became dire in January 2020. The Catholic Foundation approved land leases to external pig farmers (for two years, renewable up to 15 years), and Yeonggwang-gun legalized the farming facilities, exacerbating the odor issues and leading to numerous complaints.

 * Over the past two years (2022-2023), 21 complaints regarding pig farm odors were filed with Yeonggwang-gun, and the local media frequently highlighted the negative impact of these operations on village life.

In July 2023, the residents filed a collective complaint with the ACRC, requesting a solution to the odor problem caused by the pig farming operations in their village.

In response, the ACRC conducted multiple on-site investigations and consultations and gathered opinions from stakeholders to prepare a mediation plan. The resolution includes several key measures:

 First, Yeonggwang-gun will implement a rural space improvement project by 2025 to fundamentally address the livestock odor issue. Meanwhile, pig farming will be temporarily allowed until the improvement project is completed, with strict order management measures in place.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju will actively cooperate with the rural space improvement project and continue leasing the land to pig farmers under the condition that they make efforts to reduce odor until the completion of the project.

In addition, the five pig farmers* in the village have agreed to cooperate with the village improvement project and will temporarily operate while implementing enhanced practices to minimize odor, such as liquid manure storage and carcass disposal methods.

 *Pig farms in the village: Geumo Livestock, Geumo 2 Farm, Taehwa Livestock, Poya Farm, and Euni Farm

Finally, the applicants agreed to actively cooperate with the village improvement project and accept the temporary operation of the pig farms during the project’s execution.

ACRC Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan commented on the resolution, stating, “It is significant that we have resolved the long-standing conflict caused by livestock odor in the village through the concessions and cooperation of the livestock farmers, the Catholic Foundation, and Yeonggwang-gun. This agreement will significantly improve the living environment and quality of life for the Hansen’s disease patients who have endured so much amid societal prejudice and discrimination.”

He continued, “To protect the rights of Hansen’s disease patients and to improve the environment and welfare of the settlement village, it is crucial to understand the unique challenges faced by these residents. We need the cooperation and participation of the central government, local governments, and various sectors of society. I urge everyone to take a special interest in and provide support for these efforts.”