© 포항환경운동연합

【브레이크뉴스 포항】박영재 기자=포항시 청하면 의료폐기물 소각장이 준공도 되기 전에 수백억 원대 급매물로 등장하면서, 지역사회에서는 “결국 주민 피해만 남긴 채 개발 이익을 챙기려 한 것 아니냐”는 의혹이 커지고 있다.

포항환경운동연합은 12일 포항시청에서 기자회견을 열고 청하 의료폐기물 소각장 사업을 “주민 건강권과 환경권을 담보로 사업권 가치만 키운 투기상품”이라고 규정하며 허가 취소와 사업 전면 백지화를 촉구했다.

이 단체는 “주민들에게는 의료폐기물 처리에 꼭 필요한 시설이라며 희생을 강요했지만, 실제로는 아직 준공도 되지 않은 사업장이 부동산 시장에 급매물로 등장했다”며 “환경 피해 우려는 지역사회가 떠안고, 사업자는 시세차익 실현과 투자금 회수에만 몰두한 것 아니냐”고 비판했다.

환경운동연합에 따르면 해당 사업장은 지난 4월 말 720억~850억 원 규모의 매물로 부동산 시장에 나온 것으로 알려졌다. 단체는 “언론 보도 이후 일부 매물 광고가 사라졌지만, 매물로 나온 사실 자체는 없어지지 않는다”며 “이례적이고 비정상적인 거래 시도”라고 주장했다.

논란의 핵심은 주민 수용성과 공공성 논리가 결국 ‘사업권 프리미엄’을 키우는 수단으로 활용됐다는 점이다. 주민 반대와 환경 우려 속에서도 각종 행정 절차가 속전속결로 진행됐고, 결과적으로 사업 자체가 하나의 거래 가능한 자산처럼 취급됐다는 것이다.

포항환경운동연합은 특히 정보 비공개 행정을 강하게 문제 삼았다. 단체는 사업계획서와 환경성 조사 자료 등에 대해 정보공개를 청구했지만, 대구지방환경청과 포항시가 ‘영업비밀’을 이유로 비공개하거나 “자료가 존재하지 않는다”는 취지로 답변했다고 밝혔다.

이 단체는 “환경 위해성과 주민 피해 여부를 검증해야 할 핵심 자료가 기업의 영업비밀이라는 이유로 가려졌다”며 “주민의 생명·건강권보다 사업자의 수익 구조가 우선된 셈”이라고 지적했다.

또 “포항시는 주민 수용성을 강조해왔지만, 실제로는 허가를 전제로 한 부서 간 업무협의만 반복됐다”며 “행정은 갈등 조정자가 아니라 사업 추진의 방패막이 역할을 했다”고 주장했다.

퇴직 공무원 유착 의혹도 다시 제기됐다. 환경운동연합은 “포항시 관련 주요 부서 공무원 출신 인사들이 사업체에 근무하고 있다는 사실이 알려지면서 시민 불신이 커지고 있다”며 “왜 주민 반대가 묵살됐는지, 왜 행정이 무기력하게 대응했는지 철저한 진상 규명이 필요하다”고 밝혔다.

단체는 “백 보 양보해 의료폐기물 처리시설의 필요성을 인정하더라도, 주민 알권리를 차단하고 환경 정보를 숨긴 채 밀실 행정으로 추진된 사업까지 정당화될 수는 없다”며 “관련 기관은 인허가 전 과정과 사업권 거래 의혹에 대해 전면 재조사에 나서야 한다”고 촉구했다.

이어 “포항시는 허가 취소를 포함한 가능한 모든 행정·법적 수단을 검토해야 한다”며 “주민 희생 위에 세워진 ‘먹튀 사업’ 의혹을 더 이상 방치해서는 안 된다”고 주장했다.

<구글 번역으로 번역한 영문 기사의 전문 입니다. 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 밝힙니다.>

Controversy Grows Over Cheongha Medical Waste Incinerator Put Up for Sale Before Completion Pohang Environmental Movement Federation: “A Speculative Project Aimed at Inflating Business Rights Value”… Calls for Permit Revocation and Full Cancellation

Criticism is mounting over the medical waste incinerator project in Cheongha-myeon, Pohang, with accusations that the project was driven not by public necessity but by speculative attempts to inflate the value of business rights. As the facility reportedly appeared on the real estate market for hundreds of billions of won before even being completed, local residents are increasingly questioning whether the project ultimately served only to generate development profits while leaving environmental risks and public harm behind.

The Pohang Environmental Movement Federation issued a statement on May 12, describing the Cheongha medical waste incinerator as “a speculative commodity that expanded its business value at the expense of residents’ health and environmental rights,” while demanding the revocation of permits and the complete cancellation of the project.

The group argued that residents had been pressured to accept the facility under the justification that it was an “essential public facility” for medical waste treatment, only to later discover that the unfinished project had been listed as a “quick sale” on the real estate market.

“While local communities were forced to endure fears of environmental damage, the project operator appears to have focused on recovering investments and realizing massive profits through resale,” the organization said.

According to the federation, the project was reportedly offered for sale in late April at prices ranging from 72 billion won to 85 billion won. The group emphasized that although some advertisements disappeared following media reports, “the fact that the project was placed on the market itself does not disappear.”

The organization described the attempted sale as “highly unusual and abnormal,” arguing that the project effectively transformed into a tradable financial asset despite ongoing environmental disputes and strong opposition from residents.

At the center of the controversy is the accusation that arguments about public necessity and local acceptance were ultimately used to raise the project’s speculative market value. Even amid widespread environmental concerns and local resistance, administrative approval procedures reportedly moved forward rapidly, leading critics to claim that the project itself became a tool for generating business premiums.

The federation also strongly criticized the government’s refusal to disclose information. It said requests for access to business plans and environmental impact materials were rejected by both the Daegu Regional Environmental Office and Pohang City on the grounds of “corporate trade secrets” or claims that related documents “did not exist.”

“The most critical materials needed to verify environmental risks and threats to residents’ health were hidden behind the excuse of trade secrets,” the group said. “This effectively prioritized corporate profit structures over citizens’ rights to life and health.”

The federation further argued that Pohang City had publicly emphasized “resident acceptance,” while in practice administrative procedures were merely conducted as formalities aimed at securing approval for the project.

“Rather than acting as a mediator in a public conflict, the administration functioned as a shield protecting the project,” the statement said.

The organization also renewed allegations of collusion involving retired public officials. It claimed that former officials from key administrative departments were now working for the project operator, deepening public distrust over the approval process.

“Citizens are questioning why their opposition was ignored and why the administration responded so passively,” the federation said, calling for a full investigation into the entire permitting process.

The group added that while medical waste treatment facilities may be necessary in principle, “that necessity cannot justify secretive administrative procedures, the concealment of environmental information, or allegations of collusion.”

It urged authorities to launch a comprehensive reinvestigation into both the licensing process and the controversy surrounding the alleged trading of business rights.

“Pohang City must review every possible administrative and legal measure, including revoking the permit,” the organization stated. “Suspicions that this was ultimately a ‘hit-and-run development project’ built on the sacrifice of local residents can no longer be ignored.”