Court Finds Jeollanam-do Liable for Mass Eel Deaths Linked to Roadwork Noise (Image created by AI/ChatGPT)
GWANGJU, South Korea, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean court has ruled that the provincial government of South Jeolla must share liability for the mass death of eels at aquaculture farms near a road construction site, marking a rare legal precedent in environmental damage cases tied to public infrastructure projects.
The Gwangju District Court’s Civil Division 13, presided over by Judge Jeong Young-ho, found in favor of two eel farm operators in Yeonggwang County, ordering both South Jeolla Province and construction contractor Company A to jointly pay approximately 600 million won (about $410,000) in damages.
The ruling stems from a project commissioned by South Jeolla Province and carried out by Company A between 2015 and 2022 to pave a road near the plaintiffs’ aquaculture facilities. In 2020, a mass eel die-off occurred at the site, prompting the farmers to file suit.
The plaintiffs claimed that construction-related noise and vibrations had harmed their operations since at least 2017, causing both premature eel deaths and stunted growth. In 2021, the National Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee found that underwater noise levels had exceeded safety thresholds and ruled in favor of compensation. However, the provincial government declined to accept the committee’s findings.
During the court proceedings, South Jeolla argued that it bore no liability as it had merely contracted out the work. The court rejected that argument, ruling that the province was not only the project’s commissioner but also a de facto operator.
“The provincial government is responsible, alongside the construction firm, for the damage incurred by the plaintiffs, as it acted as both project owner and contributor to the cause,” the court stated. However, it acknowledged that Company A had taken some measures to mitigate noise—such as installing temporary sound barriers—and reduced its liability share to 75%.
The case highlights increasing judicial scrutiny over the environmental impact of public works, particularly as South Korea balances rural development with environmental protections. Further appeals may follow, but legal experts say the ruling could influence future cases involving state-backed infrastructure and environmental harm.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
