As the expiration of quarry permits approaches nationwide, the number of sites requiring restoration is rapidly increasing. The number of quarry development permits has exceeded 800, covering more than 5,000 hectares, with restoration costs exceeding 20 trillion won. These quarries play a crucial role, supplying over 34% of the domestic aggregate demand, but they have also been viewed as symbols of environmental degradation. The current Mountain Management Law stands on the principle that restoring the land to its original state after extraction is the best and most desirable conclusion. But is restoration truly the best option?
The issue is that there are many potential uses for the land that do not require restoration, yet the current restoration system does not fit the realities of the sites. While there are areas that require thorough restoration, reversing the changes to land that has already been significantly altered is technically challenging and economically inefficient. If the land is excavated again for development after restoration, it results in wasted time, costs, and space. It is now a societal imperative to shift from an environment and restoration-centered perspective to one focused on the efficient use of land and regional development.
In fact, the industrial value of former quarry sites is very high. Many of these areas have already undergone significant transformation, with established access roads and large independent spaces. Utilizing these already excavated areas can serve as an excellent alternative to prevent the substantial social costs and forest damage associated with new site development. Potential uses include sanitary landfill facilities, renewable energy installations on large idle lands, and data centers that require security and expansive land.
There are numerous examples both domestically and internationally of former quarries being repurposed into sanitary landfills or popular cultural and tourism facilities. The sanitary landfill facility in Mungyeong is a successful case where public development was carried out without restoring private quarries. The Pocheon Art Valley has transformed a former quarry into a cultural and artistic space through urban regeneration, becoming a tourist attraction. The Hwangdeung Quarry in Iksan has become a popular site for visitors to observe ongoing extraction activities. Notable examples include the Eden Project in the UK and Butchart Gardens in Canada, which have converted quarry sites into world-renowned botanical gardens. Japan also has several cases, such as the Eco-Park Kagoshima industrial waste landfill, utilizing former quarry sites.
Legal and institutional reforms are urgently needed. Under current law, if a land-use permit is obtained before restoration, the restoration requirement is waived. Obtaining a land-use permit can take several years, creating a high barrier for private operators. The most efficient approach would be to allow the submission of a 'land use plan' alongside the restoration plan at the time of extraction permit application, and to establish a 'restoration deferment system' that guarantees the administrative process duration for land-use permits.
Of course, concerns regarding preferential treatment for operators due to restoration fee waivers, as well as local opposition and environmental safety issues, must be thoroughly addressed. One proposed alternative is a development model structured as a Special Purpose Company (SPC) that involves joint cooperation and management between local governments and operators. By clearly institutionalizing the public contributions of operators and ensuring principles of public interest, transparency, and regional coexistence, community acceptance can be sufficiently secured.
Land is limited. True restoration goes beyond simply planting a few trees. A creative strategy is needed to embed new social values and the foundations of future industries on already altered terrain. Above all, a policy shift is required to view former quarry sites not as 'scarred land' but as 'spaces with new possibilities.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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