Controversial cable car project on Mt. Seoraksan gets conditional authorization

 

 

After 40 years of dispute, the Korean government has given a "conditional go-ahead" to build and operate a cable car system over Seoraksan National Park. But the decision has sparked fierce backlash from environmentalists. Jeong Eun-joo has more. Plans to open a second cable car line at Seoraksan National Park have been conditionally authorized after more than 40 years of controversy. The Ministry of Environment on Monday gave "conditional consent" to an environmental impact assessment to build and operate a cable car system over a natural reserve area on Mount Seoraksan. The environment ministry's regional office in Wonju said a supplementary report submitted by the Yangyang County government included measures to reduce the project's negative environmental effects. The plan to build the cable car is one of the Yoon Suk Yeol's administration's 15 key regional development tasks for Gangwon Province, and was a campaign pledge by Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae. The project, pursued since 1982, seeks to build a 3-point-5-kilometer-long cable car system between the Seoraksan National Park's Osaek area in the county of Yangyang and a spot near the mountain's summit. The site is within a state-designated nature reserve as well as a biosphere reserve designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The plans have been long-disputed over its environmental effect, and were previously turned down several times because of environmental impact assessments. It's also caused a deep divide between those pushing for regional development and others fighting for environmental conservation. Preservationists argue the region's ecology, including mountain goats, would sustain irreversible damage. The Korea Environment Institute has previously stated that the considerably adverse impact the project will have on the environment renders it “inappropriate.” Environmentalists have also expressed concern that the latest decision may bring on a "national park development boom" and pledged to protest the plans. Meanwhile, those for development claim the project would provide an economic boost to the local economy. The decision marks the clearance of all administrative hurdles for the project, besides a regional budget review by the interior ministry for over 50 billion won. If everything goes as planned, construction will begin next year and the cable car will start operation in 2027.


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Vocabulary:
1. Conditional - subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or granted on certain terms 
2. Backlash - a strong and adverse reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development 
3. Pledge - commit (a person or organization) by a solemn promise 

 

Questions:
1. Discuss the aforementioned plans to open a second cable car line at Seoraksan National Park.
2. What does the project seek to build?
3. How do preservationists and environmentalists feel about the conditional authorization?
4. Are you in favor of the controversial cable car project? State your reasons.
5. Is Tourism destroying the environment? Defend your answer.