Gijang-gun signs MOU to relocate medical waste incinerator away from residential areas

Gijang-gun signed an MOU with NC Medi Co. on Monday afternoon to relocate a medical waste incineration facility to a non-residential area.

The agreement is expected to ease residents' fears over odors and hazardous emissions from the facility, which sits in a neighborhood dense with apartments and schools. It is particularly significant as it opens a path to resolving the Jeongwan district's most pressing issue — one that has prompted dozens of rallies demanding relocation or closure over the past 15 years.

Under the agreement, NC Medi and Gijang-gun agreed to expedite the relocation of the incineration facility to a non-residential site to create safe living conditions for local residents. The two sides also established a framework for sustainable cooperation between the community and the company. NC Medi will be responsible for identifying and securing a new site and covering all associated costs, ensuring the relocation moves forward in practical terms.

NC Medi committed to making every effort to move the facility swiftly to a non-residential area meeting strict standards. Gijang-gun said it will actively support the administrative procedures required for the relocation, provided it proceeds through lawful channels and with residents' consent.

At a press conference Monday, Gijang-gun chief Woo Seong-bin said the agreement came after prolonged efforts to persuade the company, and that NC Medi ultimately decided to act on the principle of coexisting with residents after its own lengthy internal deliberations. "This agreement is a meaningful first step and a significant outcome in our effort to put the safety of our residents first," he said.