Public acceptance of a large-scale offshore wind power project in South Korea

Meaning

Public acceptance here means the extent to which households, local residents, interest groups (especially fishers and coastal communities), and the broader public support — or at least tolerate — a proposed large offshore wind project. Acceptance covers attitudes, perceived fairness, willingness to host turbines nearby, and behavioral outcomes (e.g., protests, litigation, or cooperation). Several South Korea studies show acceptance depends strongly on perceived economic benefits, trust in government, and environmental concerns. SSRN+1

Introduction

South Korea has pursued rapid offshore wind deployment as part of renewable energy and carbon-neutrality goals, with government plans and commercial projects concentrated on the southwest coast and floating wind further offshore. Large projects (GW-scale) promise major emissions reductions and industrial opportunities, but have repeatedly faced local resistance — especially from fishing communities and residents worried about environmental, economic, or procedural impacts. Key empirical studies and policy reports examine why acceptance varies and what influences it. Reuters+1

Advantages

1. Climate and energy security — displaces fossil generation, helps Korea reach 2030/2050 targets. Reuters

2. Large economic opportunity — local jobs, manufacturing and supply-chain development (turbine, foundation, vessels). ctprodstorageaccountp.blob.core.windows.net

3. Industrial leadership & exports — builds domestic capability in fixed and floating offshore wind. Norton Rose Fulbright

4. Potential local co-benefits — new harbor investments, seabed restoration/ artificial reef effects (reported in some studies). ctprodstorageaccountp.blob.core.windows.net

Disadvantages / public concerns

1. Impacts on fisheries and livelihoods — fear of lost fishing grounds, gear risks, and reduced catch. Carbon Trust

2. Environmental and visual impacts — concerns about marine ecology, bird migration, and scenic seascapes. ScienceDirect

3. Distributional fairness — if economic benefits (jobs, compensation) don’t reach affected communities, opposition grows. SSRN

4. Procedural issues — lack of early consultation, perceived top-down siting, and weak trust in local/state agencies. SSRN

Key challenges (specific to South Korea)

• Fisheries conflict and coexistence: Fisheries are the most vocal opponents; co-use rules and compensation schemes are still evolving. Carbon Trust

• Trust & governance: Public trust in local government and developers strongly affects acceptance — poor process design causes delays. SSRN

• Permitting and zoning system: Complex and sometimes centralised decision paths create uncertainty for communities and investors. content.forourclimate.org

• Grid connection and infrastructure: Localities worry about who benefits from new grid links and whether they bear environmental costs. Norton Rose Fulbright

In-depth analysis — determinants of acceptance

Empirical surveys and choice experiments in Korea identify consistent determinants:

• Perceived economic contribution (jobs, local investment) is often the strongest positive driver of acceptance. Communities more likely to accept projects when they expect measurable, local economic benefits. SSRN+1

• Trust in local government and developers mediates whether promised benefits are believed and delivered. Trust reduces perceived risk and opposition. SSRN

• Perceived environmental cost (real or feared) reduces acceptance — minimizing and transparently communicating environmental impacts is crucial. ScienceDirect

• Distributional fairness & compensation design: How compensation is structured (individual vs community fund, timing, conditionality) changes support levels. SSRN+1

Mitigation & design strategies to raise acceptance

Practical steps drawn from literature and policy reports:

1. Early, genuine stakeholder engagement — involve fishers and residents in site selection, impact assessment, and benefit-sharing design from the start. Carbon Trust

2. Transparent economic packages — clear, legally enforceable commitments for jobs, local procurement, and community funds tied to measurable milestones. SSRN

3. Coexistence and compensation schemes — negotiated fishing access rules, gear-loss insurance, predefined compensation formulas, and co-use trials (adaptive management). Carbon Trust

4. Independent environmental monitoring and adaptive management — public reporting and third-party audits to build credibility. ScienceDirect

5. Local capacity building — training programs so that coastal communities can access new jobs in construction, O&M, and supply chains. ctprodstorageaccountp.blob.core.windows.net

6. Pilots and phased development — start with smaller or demonstrator zones to show real impacts and benefits before scaling up. Korea Science

Policy recommendations (concise)

• Codify benefit-sharing and compensation in law/regulation to reduce ad-hoc bargaining. content.forourclimate.org

• Create coexistence platforms (government + fishers + developers) with binding dispute resolution. Carbon Trust

• Use spatial planning to avoid sensitive fishing grounds and ecological hotspots before bids are awarded. content.forourclimate.org

• Require community-level impact statements and social acceptance assessments as part of EIA/permits. ScienceDirect

Conclusion

Large-scale offshore wind projects in South Korea offer major climate and industrial benefits but face meaningful local opposition rooted in economic, environmental, and procedural concerns. Evidence from Korean surveys and policy analyses shows that acceptance is not fixed — it responds to perceived local economic gains, the fairness and transparency of processes, and trust in authorities. Thoughtful, legally backed benefit-sharing, early engagement, coexistence measures with fisheries, and phased development are the most effective ways to raise acceptance and reduce costly delays. SSRN+1

Summary

South Korea’s large offshore wind plans promise climate, jobs, and industrial gains but have encountered local resistance — especially from fishers and coastal residents. Acceptance hinges on perceived economic benefits, trust in government, and transparent processes. Early engagement, clear compensation, coexistence rules, and phased pilots significantly improve local support and reduce project delays. Reuters+1