Gyeonggi Province reports high ion levels in SK hynix discharge stream

Gyeonggi Province has requested the central government establish specific management standards for chloride and sulfate ions in river water after water quality tests revealed levels exceeding FAO recommendations in a stream fed by SK hynix semiconductor plant discharge.

Testing conducted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Public Health and Environmental Research in Jukdangcheon stream showed that while nine standard indicators like BOD remained within safe domestic limits, chloride and sulfate concentrations were significantly higher than in the nearby Bokha Stream. Specifically, chloride levels reached an average of 731 mg/L and sulfate levels reached 1,056 mg/L near the discharge point, exceeding the FAO irrigation guidelines of 355 mg/L for chloride and 0–960 mg/L for sulfate.

Although these ions are not classified as fatal toxins, they can affect water taste, cause pipe corrosion, and irritate gastrointestinal tracts. The province is calling for the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment to set discharge permit standards to prepare for the potential impact on the Gosam Reservoir, where discharge is expected to flow starting next February.