2026, Vol.35, No.5

A Proposal for Expanding Target Projects for Climate Change Impact Assessment through Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Items in Environmental Impact Assessment

Cheol Ho Woo

, Yoon Ji Kim

, Sung Hyun Chan

and 2 other persons | 2026, 35(5) | pp.335~347 | number of Cited : 0

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The Climate Change Impact Assessment system is a key instrument for achieving carbon neutrality; however, its current application is limited to some plans and projects subject to Environmental Impact Assessment. This study aims to provide quantitative evidence for expanding the scope of projects subject to Climate Change Impact Assessment. To this end, 203 Environmental Impact Assessment reports were collected for seven project types that are not currently subject to Climate Change Impact Assessment. Greenhouse gas emissions were analyzed using three evaluation criteria: total GHG emissions during construction, annual GHG emissions during operation, and the previous-study criterion based on stationary combustion and electricity use during operation. Carbon storage and sequestration losses were analyzed separately as supplementary carbon sink indicators. The results indicated that operational emissions from development projects in specific areas and harbor construction projects exceeded the current criteria for Climate Change Impact Assessment, indicating the need to prioritize these project types for consideration in future expansion of the assessment scope. In railroad construction projects, greenhouse gas emissions during the construction phase were identified as a major environmental impact, whereas in tourism complex development projects and sports facility establishment projects, carbon sink losses resulting from forest loss were found to be major environmental impacts. This study empirically examined the characteristics of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sink losses by project type, thereby revealing blind spots in the current Climate Change Impact Assessment system. Based on these findings, it presents policy implications for expanding the scope of Climate Change Impact Assessment by comprehensively considering GHG emissions during the construction and operation phases and carbon sink conservation.

The Effects of Shading Characteristics by Space within an Apartment Complex on Changes in Light Environment and Tree Growth

Lee Seonghun

, Kim, Chan-Beom

, June Yang and 8 other persons | 2026, 35(5) | pp.348~361 | number of Cited : 0

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The high-rise and high-density development of apartment complexes creates complex microclimates. However, conventional landscape planting has often failed to accurately reflect these environmental characteristics, heavily relying on designers' intuition or simple compass directions. Therefore, this study aimed to quantitatively categorize spatial shading characteristics formed by buildings and to investigate the impact of differences in the light environment (light intensity and R:FR ratio) on the actual growth (diameter at root collar) of landscape trees. For this purpose, 36 standard plots across six apartment complexes were investigated. Using hemispherical photography, the sky obstruction ratio and the number of buildings in eight directions were calculated. Subsequently, the spaces were classified into Open, Partially shaded, and Completely shaded types through K-Means clustering analysis. Following this, the light environment and the annual root collar diameter growth of the planted trees were statistically compared across the spatial types. The results confirmed that unconditionally open spaces are not the optimal environments for tree growth. The overall tree growth was the highest in the partially shaded spaces (p<0.001). Furthermore, the light environment analysis revealed that although the partially shaded spaces had a lower total light intensity than the open spaces, they maintained the essential light quality (R:FR ratio) crucial for plant growth at the highest and most stable levels during the day. This study is significant as it quantitatively classifies spaces within apartment complexes and empirically proves that appropriate shading can actually foster a positive light environment for tree growth. These findings can serve as fundamental data for future landscape tree selection and the establishment of planting guidelines that accurately reflect spatial characteristics.

Interpretable Water-Quality Prediction of Paldang Lake Using Graph WaveNet and SHAP for Identifying Priority Nonpoint Source Areas under Rainfall

Yukyeong Jang

, oh Jong-Min

, I Song Choi

| 2026, 35(5) | pp.362~378 | number of Cited : 0

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Repeated Natural Hazard Exposure and the Spatial Structure of the Elderly Population

LEE DALBYUL

| 2026, 35(5) | pp.379~388 | number of Cited : 0

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Analysis of the Need for Soil and Groundwater Management around the Former U.S. Military Base in Yongsan Using Environmental Impact Assessment Documents

Jeong, Seung woo

| 2026, 35(5) | pp.389~400 | number of Cited : 0

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This study investigated soil and groundwater contamination and potential human exposure around the Yongsan U.S. military garrison in Seoul, focusing on the returned United Nations Command (UNC) site. It examined the need to extend environmental management beyond the returned site to adjacent residential areas. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) documents and post-project environmental impact survey reports for the UNC Site Complex Development Project were reviewed alongside publicly available groundwater monitoring data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Yongsan-gu. The analysis covered soil contamination and remediation history, longterm groundwater contamination around Noksapyeong Station, contaminant transport modeling conducted as part of the EIA, and recent detections of trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater and soil. Additional total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination was identified at the UNC site after previous remediation, and soil contamination was again reported during construction in 2023. Around Noksapyeong Station, benzene and TPH remained detectable through 2025 despite longterm groundwater extraction, suggesting the possible persistence of residual contamination sources. EIA modeling indicated that contaminant migration from the Noksapyeong Station area toward the project site could vary depending on the hydraulic conductivity of the cutoff wall. TCE was repeatedly detected in groundwater monitoring well GW-1 in 2024, while TCE and perchloroethylene (PCE) were also identified in soil during construction. These findings warrant further investigation into the sources and migration pathways of chlorinated solvents. Volatile contaminants may migrate from soil and groundwater through soil gas and enter buildings via vapor intrusion, potentially exposing occupants to contaminated indoor air. Therefore, integrated assessments of soil, groundwater, soil gas, sub-slab gas, and indoor air are warranted in potentially affected residential areas. These findings support a long-term soil and groundwater management framework that evaluates the Yongsan U.S. military garrison, the returned UNC site, and surrounding communities within a shared hydrogeological framework.

Directions for Improving the Management of Marine Seabird Bycatch for Coexistence between Humans and Wildlife

Hyunjung Hong

| 2026, 35(5) | pp.401~417 | number of Cited : 0

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The East Sea of the Republic of Korea holds significant ecological value as foraging, breeding, wintering, and migratory habitats for seabirds; however, seabird bycatch continues to be reported. Through a literature review, this study diagnoses the status of seabird bycatch in the East Sea and the limitations of existing management policy, and derives directions for improvement through a comparative analysis of selected countries. Between 2019 and 2024, seabird species and individuals recorded in the East Sea, fishing rights held by fishing village cooperatives, and medium single-boat otter trawl fishing days all fluctuated from year to year, precluding any definitive increasing trend, yet each reached a six-year high in 2024 (63 species and 23,871 individuals; 19,036 ha; and 236 days, respectively). According to a single field study, bycatch was recorded every year over the six-year period at ports in the northeastern East Sea, with a total of 586 individuals across 16 species estimated to have been affected. Korea's seabird bycatch management, however, shows limitations: specific legal provisions for bycatch surveys and mitigation measures and a nationwide regular survey are absent, and bycatch is treated as incidental within national plans. In contrast, the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand mandate seabird population and bycatch surveys and combine them with bycatch limits, mandatory mitigation technologies, and incentives for fishers' participation. Accordingly, this study proposes a transition toward a management system in which five elements are interlinked and cyclically reinforcing: a legal basis for bycatch survey, reporting, and mitigation; regular surveys of seabird populations and bycatch; scientific research on the mechanisms of seabird bycatch; a comprehensive seabird bycatch management plan; and cooperation with countries along the seabirds' migratory routes, thereby promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife.

KJCKorea
Journal Central

Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 0.63

2026, Vol.35, No.5