Assessment in Socio-economic items should be used to estimate social influence when
policies and projects were introduced. To estimate current situation of socio-economic items 19
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of large scale projects were analyzed. The projects were
selected based on magnitude of social impact when the projects were implemented.
Environmental Impact Statement was categorized into line projects(road construction, railroad
construction, stream development, etc), and surface projects(energy development, wetland
reclamation, recreation and sport development, and housing and residential development, etc)
thus being chosen for 19 projects in each categories. This report was based on the analysis of 7
items in socio-economic environmental items(i.e., population, residents, industry, public
facilities, education, transport and historical monument).
Most EIS did not follow the regulation suggested by Ministry of Environment, and only
current circumstances were briefly described. Indifference of in-depth analysis of socioeconomic
environmental items would influence the process of social and environment impact
negatively in the midst of construction of National Projects such as Outer Circle Seoul
Highways, Saemankeum Reclamation Projects, etc. This abrupt halt of construction was mostly
based on a lack of public hearing or public participation. Socio-economic items are also very
much lacking in quantitative method and strengthening socio-economic environmental items is
needed via checklist or matrix that brings decision-makers better ideas objectively.