A Study on the Improvement Scheme of Environmental Impact Assessment in Social Environment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the process and characteristics of social impact caused by development projects through research and analysis on issues presented during development projects carried out in Korea. Furthermore, on the basis this analysis, this study proposes possible improvement measure environmental impact assessment for minimizing social impact of development projects in the future. Issues related to development projects are generated mainly by the following three causes. Initial social impact can occur when a development project directly causes certain changes in natural, living and social environment. Operational problems related to assessment are another cause of social impact, and it can also occur when changes in natural and living environment work in tandem with social environment sphere. Social impact of development projects is not brought about solely by changes in social environment, but is the result of interaction of factors such as changes in social, natural, living environment and problems related to assessment or operation/management. As to why the current environmental impact assessment could not provide satisfactory solution to the issues mentioned above, this study suggests the following reasons: limitations of assessment method used in social environment category, difficulties in defining assessment criteria, limitations inherent in criterion referenced assessment method, insufficient issue-making in local community, and lack of participation on the part of local residents. Possible solutions for these limitations are as follows: 1) To identify local issues in social environment category through participation of local experts in scoping stage, 2) To adopt deliberative method for local participation, 3) To utilize social survey technique.